Active Play and Screen Time in US Children Aged 4 to 11 Years
Author Information
Author(s): Sarah E. Anderson, Christina D. Economos, Aviva Must
Primary Institution: The Ohio State University College of Public Health
Hypothesis
What is the proportion of young children in the US who have low levels of active play or high levels of screen time, and how are these behaviors associated with sociodemographic and weight status characteristics?
Conclusion
Many young children in the US are reported to have physical activity and screen time behaviors that are inconsistent with recommendations for healthy pediatric development.
Supporting Evidence
- 37.3% of children had low levels of active play.
- 65.0% of children had high screen time.
- 26.3% of children had both low active play and high screen time.
- Older age, female gender, and non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity were associated with low active play and high screen time.
Takeaway
A lot of kids in the US don't play enough and watch too much TV or play on computers, which isn't good for their health.
Methodology
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2001–2004 were analyzed, focusing on reported active play and screen time among children aged 4 to 11 years.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to social desirability in parent reporting.
Limitations
The study relies on parent-reported data, which may lead to underestimates of active play and overestimates of screen time.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 4 to 11 years, with a mix of genders and racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 34.1% to 40.4%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website