Longitudinal associations between child, parenting, home and neighbourhood factors and children's screen time through 4 to 7 years of age.

backgroundScreen-based devices have become a pervasive feature in the lives of young children. Understanding the ecological influences determining young children's screen use is imperative for promoting healthy screen habits. While individual studies have examined various factors influencing children's screen use across the early years, few studies have explored multiple ecological influences simultaneously. This research examines longitudinal associations between children's home environment, parent management practices and neighbourhood influences on children's screen time, through 4 to 7 years of age.

methodsAnalyses draw on data from 2485 children in the Infant Cohort of a nationally representative sample of children and families participating in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Bivariate and multiple linear regression models were developed to assess contributions of child, parenting, home and neighbourhood variables, measured at 4-5 years, in predicting children's daily screen time at 6-7 years.

resultsGirls had lower screen time than boys at 6-7 years of age. Higher household socio-economic status, child participation in home learning activities and out-of-home extra-curricular activities, parenting consistency, and screen management practices including restricted bedroom access, presence and enforcement of screen rules, and parent-reported ease in managing screen time were also all significant predictors of lower daily screen time at age 6-7 years. Neighbourhood factors including liveability, sense of belonging and area-based socio-economic index were not significant predictors of children's screen time, after child, parenting and home factors were included in the model.

conclusionsProviding guidance to families about building healthy screen practices from an early age should focus on parenting consistency and management of screen time, as well as responsiveness to engage children in other activities. Home routines on screen use, when consistently managed, can provide young children with opportunities to learn to self-regulate their own screen use behaviours from an early age and build healthy screen time habits.