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The relationship between typically developing school-age children's screen time, participation and physical activity:
Jennie Trinh Nguyen1, Ted Brown2, Mong-Lin Yu2
1Honours Student, Occupational Therapy and Science Program, Faculty of Health, Deakin University - Waterfront Campus, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
The British Journal of Occupational Therapy
|May 8, 2025
Summary
This study found no significant link between children's screen time and physical activity levels. However, screen time use did correlate with children's activity preferences and participation in daily activities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Screen-based activities are increasingly prevalent among children and adolescents.
- Previous research links increased screen time to negative outcomes like sleep disturbances and reduced physical activity.
- Limited understanding exists regarding children's activity preferences and participation in relation to screen time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between screen time usage in school-aged children and their participation in various activities.
- To explore the relationship between children's screen time and their physical activity levels.
- To understand how screen time influences children's preferences and engagement in daily occupations.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 25 parents/caregivers of typically developing children aged 8-12 years in Australia participated.
- Data collection involved parent/caregiver completion of the Children Screen Time Use Report (CSTUR) and Children Participation Questionnaire-School (CPQ-S).
- Child participants completed the CSTUR, Preferences for Activities of Children (PAC), Perceived Meaning of Occupations Questionnaire (PMOQ), and Physical Activity Questionnaire-Children (PAQ-C).
- Spearman Rho correlations were used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant associations were found between the CSTUR and PAQ-C subscales in children aged 8-12 years.
- Significant correlations were identified between CSTUR scores and the PAC, PMOQ, and CPQ-S scale scores.
- Screen time was associated with children's preferences for activities and their perceived meaning of occupations.
Conclusions:
- Occupational therapists should consider the impact of screen-based activities on school-aged children's daily participation.
- While not directly linked to physical activity, screen time influences children's activity choices and engagement.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between screen time and child development.
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