Dylan P Cliff1, Steven J Howard2, Jenny S Radesky3, Jade McNeill4, Stewart A Vella5. 1. Early Start, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. Electronic address: dylanc@uow.edu.au. 2. Early Start, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. 3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich. 4. Early Start, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. 5. Early Start, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate: 1) prospective associations between media exposure (television viewing, computers, and electronic games) at 2 years and self-regulation at 4 and 6 years, and 2) bidirectional associations between media exposure and self-regulation at 4 and 6 years. We hypothesized that media exposure and self-regulation would show a negative prospective association and subsequent bidirectional inverse associations. METHODS: Data from the nationally-representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children when children were aged 2 years (n = 2786) and 4/6 years (n = 3527) were used. Primary caregivers reported children's weekly electronic media exposure. A composite measure of self-regulation was computed from caregiver-, teacher-, and observer-report data. Associations were examined using linear regression and cross-lagged panel models, accounting for covariates. RESULTS: Lower television viewing and total media exposure at 2 years were associated with higher self-regulation at 4 years (both β = -0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.03 to -0.01). Lower self-regulation at 4 years was also significantly associated with higher television viewing (β = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.08), electronic game use (β = -0.05; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.01), and total media exposure (β = -0.19; 95% CI, -0.29 to -0.09) at 6 years. However, media exposure at 4 years was not associated with self-regulation at 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although media exposure duration at 2 years was associated with later self-regulation, and self-regulation at 4 years was associated with later media exposure, associations were of small magnitude. More research is needed to examine content quality, social context, and mobile media use and child self-regulation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate: 1) prospective associations between media exposure (television viewing, computers, and electronic games) at 2 years and self-regulation at 4 and 6 years, and 2) bidirectional associations between media exposure and self-regulation at 4 and 6 years. We hypothesized that media exposure and self-regulation would show a negative prospective association and subsequent bidirectional inverse associations. METHODS: Data from the nationally-representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children when children were aged 2 years (n = 2786) and 4/6 years (n = 3527) were used. Primary caregivers reported children's weekly electronic media exposure. A composite measure of self-regulation was computed from caregiver-, teacher-, and observer-report data. Associations were examined using linear regression and cross-lagged panel models, accounting for covariates. RESULTS: Lower television viewing and total media exposure at 2 years were associated with higher self-regulation at 4 years (both β = -0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.03 to -0.01). Lower self-regulation at 4 years was also significantly associated with higher television viewing (β = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.08), electronic game use (β = -0.05; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.01), and total media exposure (β = -0.19; 95% CI, -0.29 to -0.09) at 6 years. However, media exposure at 4 years was not associated with self-regulation at 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although media exposure duration at 2 years was associated with later self-regulation, and self-regulation at 4 years was associated with later media exposure, associations were of small magnitude. More research is needed to examine content quality, social context, and mobile media use and child self-regulation.
Authors: Ross D Neville; Michele A Nelson; Sheri Madigan; Dillon T Browne; Kimberley D Lakes Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2021-03-08 Impact factor: 3.183