Cross-sectional and prospective associations between screen time and childhood neurodevelopment in two Brazilian cohorts born 11 years apart
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Otávio Amaral de Andrade Leão1, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi1, Marlos Rodrigues Domingues2
1Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Insights
Screen time in early childhood showed minimal association with neurodevelopment. Inconsistent results suggest current screen time guidelines may need re-evaluation for children under five.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Early childhood screen time is a growing concern for child development.
- Understanding the impact of screen exposure on neurodevelopment is crucial for establishing healthy habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between screen time from ages 2 to 4 years and child neurodevelopment at age 4.
- To analyze screen time from television and other devices separately and combined.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2004 and 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort studies.
- Assessed child neurodevelopment at age 4 using the Battelle Development Inventory.
- Collected screen time data from guardians at ages 2 and 4 years, analyzing television, other screens, and total screen time.
Main Results:
- Average daily screen time was 3.4 hours (2004 cohort) and 4.4 hours (2015 cohort) at age 4.
- Few associations of small magnitude were observed between screen time and neurodevelopment.
- Television time at age 2 was linked to lower neurodevelopment in the 2015 cohort, while television and total screen time at age 4 were linked to higher neurodevelopment in the 2004 cohort.
Conclusions:
- Current screen time may not significantly impact neurodevelopment in children under 5.
- Inconsistent findings challenge existing screen time guidelines for this age group.
- Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the true effects of screen time on child development and health outcomes.
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between screen time from ages 2 to 4 years and child neurodevelopment at age 4.
Methods:
The participants were from the 2004 (N = 3787) and 2015 (N = 3604) Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort studies. Childhood neurodevelopment was assessed at age 4 using the Battelle Development Inventory. The time children spent on screen devices was reported by their guardians at ages 2 and 4 years. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association of: (i) time spent on television at ages 2 and 4 years; (ii) time spent on other screens at age 4; and (iii) total screen time at age 4 (television + other screens) with childhood neurodevelopment at age 4.
Results:
Average daily screen time among children born in 2004 and those born in 2005 aged 4 years were 3.4 (SD: 2.4) and 4.4 h (SD: 2.9), respectively. Overall, few associations of very small magnitude between screen time and child neurodevelopment were observed. Television time at 2 years of age was statistically associated with lower neurodevelopment at 4 years of age in the 2015 cohort (β = -0.30, 95%CI = -0.55; -0.05). Conversely, television time (β = 0.17, 95%CI = 0.07, 0.26) and total screen time (β = 0.22, 95%CI = 0.13, 0.31) at age 4 were associated with higher neurodevelopment at age 4 in the 2004 cohort.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study suggest that the amount of time spent on screen devices might not be associated with neurodevelopment of children under 5 years of age. The small magnitude and inconsistencies in the direction of associations did not find evidence to support the current guidelines for screen time at this age. Therefore, more studies, especially those with longitudinal data, are important to comprehend the true effect of screen time on neurodevelopment and other health outcomes.
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