Brae Anne McArthur1,2, Dillon Browne3, Sheila McDonald1,4, Suzanne Tough1,2,5, Sheri Madigan6,2,5. 1. University of Calgary, Calgary Alberta, Canada. 2. Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 3. University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; and. 4. Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 5. Contributed equally as joint senior authors. 6. University of Calgary, Calgary Alberta, Canada; sheri.madigan@ucalgary.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The home literacy environment has been identified as a key predictor of children's language, school readiness, academic achievement, and behavioral outcomes. With the increased accessibility and consumption of digital media, it is important to understand whether screen use impacts off-line enrichment activities such as reading or whether reading activities offset screen use. Using a prospective birth cohort, we examined reading and screen use at 24, 36, and 60 months to elucidate the directional association between screen use and reading over time. METHODS: This study included data from 2440 mothers and children in Calgary, Alberta, drawn from the All Our Families cohort. Children's screen use and reading activities were assessed via maternal report at age 24, 36, and 60 months. Sociodemographic covariates were also collected. RESULTS: Using a random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model, which statistically controls for individual-level confounds, this study revealed that greater screen use at 24 months was associated with lower reading at 36 months (β = -.08; 95% confidence interval: -0.13 to -0.02). In turn, lower reading at 36 months was associated with greater screen use at 60 months (β = -.11; 95% confidence interval: -0.19 to -0.02). Covariates did not modify the associations. CONCLUSIONS: A reciprocal relationship between screen use and reading was identified. Early screen use was associated with lower reading activities, resulting in greater screen use at later ages. Findings emphasize the need for practitioners and educators to discuss screen use guidelines and encourage families to engage in device-free activities to foster early literacy exposure.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The home literacy environment has been identified as a key predictor of children's language, school readiness, academic achievement, and behavioral outcomes. With the increased accessibility and consumption of digital media, it is important to understand whether screen use impacts off-line enrichment activities such as reading or whether reading activities offset screen use. Using a prospective birth cohort, we examined reading and screen use at 24, 36, and 60 months to elucidate the directional association between screen use and reading over time. METHODS: This study included data from 2440 mothers and children in Calgary, Alberta, drawn from the All Our Families cohort. Children's screen use and reading activities were assessed via maternal report at age 24, 36, and 60 months. Sociodemographic covariates were also collected. RESULTS: Using a random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model, which statistically controls for individual-level confounds, this study revealed that greater screen use at 24 months was associated with lower reading at 36 months (β = -.08; 95% confidence interval: -0.13 to -0.02). In turn, lower reading at 36 months was associated with greater screen use at 60 months (β = -.11; 95% confidence interval: -0.19 to -0.02). Covariates did not modify the associations. CONCLUSIONS: A reciprocal relationship between screen use and reading was identified. Early screen use was associated with lower reading activities, resulting in greater screen use at later ages. Findings emphasize the need for practitioners and educators to discuss screen use guidelines and encourage families to engage in device-free activities to foster early literacy exposure.