How is adults’ screen time behaviour influencing their views on screen time restrictions for children? A cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Wendy Van Lippevelde¹  Camille E. Short²  Amanda L. Rebar³  Stephanie Schoeppe³  Corneel Vandelanotte³  Stephanie Alley³ 

[1] Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 – 4K3 room 036, 9000, Ghent, Belgium;Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia;Physical Activity Research Group, Central Queensland University, School of Human Health and Social Sciences, Building 18 Bruce Highway, 4702, North Rockhampton, QLD, Australia;

关键词: Adult;    Parent;    Children;    Television;    Computer;    Screen time;    Rules;    Restrictions;    Sedentary behaviour;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-2789-3

 received in 2015-09-15, accepted in 2016-01-27,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHigh screen time in children and its detrimental health effects is a major public health problem. How much screen time adults think is appropriate for children remains little explored, as well as whether adults’ screen time behaviour would determine their views on screen time restrictions for children. This study aimed to investigate how adults’ screen time behaviour influences their views on screen time restrictions for children, including differences by gender and parental status.MethodsIn 2013, 2034 Australian adults participated in an online survey conducted by the Population Research Laboratory at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton. Adult screen time behaviour was assessed using the Workforce Sitting Questionnaire. Adults reported the maximum time children aged between 5–12 years should be allowed to spend watching TV and using a computer. Ordinal logistic regression was used to compare adult screen time behaviour with views on screen time restrictions for children.ResultsMost adults (68 %) held the view that children should be allowed no more than 2 h of TV viewing and computer use on school days, whilst fewer adults (44 %) thought this screen time limit is needed on weekend days. Women would impose higher screen time restrictions for children than men (p < 0.01). Most adults themselves spent > 2 h on watching TV and using the computer at home on work days (66 %) and non-work days (88 %). Adults spending ≤ 2 h/day in leisure-related screen time were less likely to permit children > 2 h/day of screen time. These associations did not differ by adult gender and parental status.ConclusionsMost adults think it is appropriate to limit children’s screen time to the recommended ≤ 2 h/day but few adults themselves adhere to this screen time limit. Adults with lower screen use may be more inclined to limit children’s screen time. Strategies to reduce screen time in children may also need to target adult screen use.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Schoeppe et al. 2016