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Associations between Home Environment, Children’s and Parents’ Characteristics and Children’s TV Screen Time Behavior

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  • Carolina Bassul

    (School of Biological and Health Sciences, Technological University Dublin, City Campus, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland)

  • Clare A. Corish

    (School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland)

  • John M. Kearney

    (School of Biological and Health Sciences, Technological University Dublin, City Campus, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland)

Abstract

In Ireland, television (TV) screen time is a highly prevalent sedentary behavior among children aged less than five years. Little is known about the influence of parental rules and policies or screen time availability and accessibility within the home on children’s TV screen time behaviors. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the extent to which parents’ sociodemographic and sedentary behaviors are associated with children’s TV screen time; and to determine the associations between parents’ rules and practices, home physical environment and children’s daily TV viewing. Three hundred and thirty-two children aged 3–5 years and their parents participated in the study. Children’s TV screen time and home environmental characteristics (parents’ rules and practices and the physical environment) were assessed using questions from standardized and validated questionnaires. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Within the different sedentary behaviors evaluated, parents’ TV viewing was positively associated with children’s TV screen time (OR 1.65, 95%CI 1.09–2.50, p = 0.018). Leaving the TV on, whether or not it was being watched, was associated with a 38% increased probability of children watching ≥ 1 h TV daily. Children whose parents restricted their outdoor activity were more likely to watch ≥ 1 h TV daily (OR 2.01, 95%CI 1.04–3.88, p = 0.036). Findings from the study demonstrated that parents’ own screen time behaviors, leaving the TV on whether it was being watched or not and restricting outdoor play were associated with higher children’s TV viewing in the home environment. This knowledge is essential to inform future interventions aimed to address the increase in screen time among young children.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolina Bassul & Clare A. Corish & John M. Kearney, 2021. "Associations between Home Environment, Children’s and Parents’ Characteristics and Children’s TV Screen Time Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1589-:d:495455
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carolina Bassul & Clare A. Corish & John M. Kearney, 2020. "Associations between the Home Environment, Feeding Practices and Children’s Intakes of Fruit, Vegetables and Confectionary/Sugar-Sweetened Beverages," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Michael P. Sheldrick & Clover Maitland & Kelly A. Mackintosh & Michael Rosenberg & Lucy J. Griffiths & Richard Fry & Gareth Stratton, 2019. "Associations between the Home Physical Environment and Children’s Home-Based Physical Activity and Sitting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-21, October.
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