Family Factors Affecting TV Watching in Teens
Author Information
Author(s): Hardy Louise L, Baur Louise A, Garnett Sarah P, Crawford David, Campbell Karen J, Shrewsbury Vanessa A, Cowell Christopher T, Salmon Jo
Primary Institution: NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity, University of Sydney, Australia
Hypothesis
What family and home factors influence television viewing in adolescents aged 12-13?
Conclusion
Family and home factors significantly influence how much television 12-13 year olds watch.
Supporting Evidence
- Two-thirds of adolescents watched ≥ 2 hours of television per day.
- Adolescents with siblings were more likely to watch more TV.
- Access to pay television was linked to higher viewing times.
- Eating snacks while watching TV increased the likelihood of exceeding recommended viewing times.
- Co-viewing with parents was associated with higher TV watching.
Takeaway
Kids who have siblings, watch TV with their parents, or have a mom who watches a lot of TV are more likely to watch too much TV themselves.
Methodology
Cross-sectional, self-report survey of adolescents and their parents.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and the sample mainly consisted of middle and high SES families, affecting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
343 adolescents aged 12-13 years, 173 girls, mostly from dual-parent, middle-class families.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
[1.2, 7.8]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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