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The effect of TV viewing on children’s obesity risk and mental well-being: Evidence from the UK digital switchover

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  • Nieto, Adrián
  • Suhrcke, Marc

Abstract

We examine the effect of screen-based activities on obesity and mental well-being for children, using a large survey dataset representative of the UK population and an event study model that exploits exogenous variation in the entry date of the digital television transition in the UK. The digital transition increased the number of available free television channels from 5 to 40, leading to a rise in television viewing time. Our results show that receiving access to digital television signal considerably increases the mental health total difficulties score among children, and that this impact grows over time. We also find suggestive evidence that the digital transition could have increased BMI for children. Underlying the net effects appear to be decreases in participation in social and physical activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Nieto, Adrián & Suhrcke, Marc, 2021. "The effect of TV viewing on children’s obesity risk and mental well-being: Evidence from the UK digital switchover," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:80:y:2021:i:c:s0167629621001284
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102543
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    8. Sohae Eve Oh & Tomislav Vukina, 2022. "Estimating Parental Demand for Children’s Screen Time in a Model of Family Labor Supply," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 28(3), pages 69-89, November.
    9. Arenas-Arroyo, Esther & Fernández-Kranz, Daniel & Nollenberger, Natalia, 2022. "High Speed Internet and the Widening Gender Gap in Adolescent Mental Health: Evidence from Hospital Records," IZA Discussion Papers 15728, IZA Network @ LISER.
    10. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Christian, Hayley & Le, Huong Thu & Connelly, Luke & Zubrick, Stephen R. & Mitrou, Francis, 2022. "Causal impact of physical activity on child health and development," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1081, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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    JEL classification:

    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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