Predictors of Screen Time in Preschool Children: a Target Kids! Study

Abstract

Background: Parent rules about screen use and meals in front of the television are two modifiable factors that have been shown to be associated with increased screen time in a small cohort of 3 year old children. Understanding predictors of screen time may lead to effective interventions in preschoolers. Objective: To describe predictors of increased screen time in a large cohort of 1-5 year old children. Design/Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective observational design was used. Healthy children 1-5 years attending well-child visits were recruited between Sept 2008 and Sept 2009 through the TARGet Kids! Network, a Primary Care Research Network including 10 community pediatrician practices and 2 large family medicine group practices, in Toronto, Canada. A questionnaire was administered to parents on demographics, child and caregiver screen time use and behaviours. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used to test univariate associations between total screen time per week and predictors. Multivariate linear regression models were developed using univariate analysis variables with p