Abstract
ObjectiveTo examine children’s screen time use and sleep patterns over 2 years of the pandemic and the downstream associations with children’s executive functions and behavioural problems, as well as the moderating effects of parental factors. MethodThis longitudinal cohort study examined school-aged children’s lifestyle and behavioural changes over 2 years of the pandemic across 6 timepoints (November 2020 to August 2022). Latent growth modeling (LGM) was used to identify changes in screen time and sleep duration and multivariate LGM was used to determine how parental stress, positive parenting, changes in children’s screen time and sleep over time were associated with children’s executive functions and mental health outcomes at the final time point. ResultsA total of 198 parents (children’s mean age = 9.14 years) were recruited and followed up. Non-school screen time was elevated at the initial timepoint (3.6 ± 2.3 h). Positive parenting at the initial timepoint was associated with lower screen time use in children (β = −.19, p < .001; β = −.19, p < .001, in internalizing and externalizing models). Children whose screen time use was constant during the pandemic had shorter sleep durations (β = −.45, p < .05 in internalizing model). Executive function was predicted by sleep duration at the first timepoint (β = −.55, p < .001; β = .73, p < .001, in internalizing and externalizing models) and changes in screen time during the pandemic was associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms (β = .58, p < .05; β = .54, p < .05, in internalizing and externalizing models). ConclusionChildren’s screen time decreased slightly but remained significantly higher than Canadian and International guidelines during 2 years of the pandemic. Positive parenting styles can have a significant impact on children's screen time use. Reducing excessive screen time can help improve sleep patterns and, consequently, cognitive, and emotional well-being in children.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
