Preschool screen media exposure, executive functions and symptoms of inattention/hyperactivity

The relationships between screen media use and hot and cool executive functioning (EF) and inattention/hy-peractivity during the preschool years were assessed using data from mothers, fathers and children (N = 3787) participating in the Growing Up in New Zealand study. Patterns of screen time (i.e., whether children exceeded 2 hr of screen time at 2 and 4 years), content of screen media (adult-directed vs child-directed), total exposure of child to weekday TV (background and foreground), allowing meals in front of TV, having restrictive rules about TV, and frequency of co-viewing were examined. Binomial logistic regression analyses revealed a relationship between total exposure to TV on a weekday at age 2 and poorer performance on a hot EF task at 4.5 years of age. A relationship between eating meals in front of TV at 4 years and poorer performance on a cool EF task at 4.5 years was also identified.

Automated summary

The study found that excessive exposure to TV at age 2 had a negative impact on performance in hot executive functioning tasks at age 4.5; while eating meals in front of TV at age 4 was associated with poorer performance in cool executive functioning tasks at age 4.5.