Abstract
BackgroundExcess screen media use is a robust predictor of childhood obesity. Understanding how household factors may affect children’s screen use is needed to tailor effective intervention efforts. The preschool years are a critical time for obesity prevention, and while it is likely that greater household disorder influences preschool-aged children’s screen use, data on that relationship are absent. In this study, our goal was to quantify the relationships between household chaos and screen use in preschool-aged children.MethodsA cross-sectional, online survey was administered to 385 parents of 2–5 year-olds recruited in 2017. Household chaos was measured with the Confusion, Hubbub and Order Scale (i.e., the chaos scale), a validated, parent-reported scale. The scale consists of 15 items, each scored on a 4-point Likert scale. Final scores were the sum across the 15 items and modeled as quartiles for analyses. Parents reported their children’s screen use for nine electronic media activities. Adjusted linear and Poisson regression were used to model associations between household chaos and children’s total weekly screen use, screen use within one hour of bedtime and screen use in the bedroom.ResultsChildren averaged 31.0 (SD = 23.8) hours per week with screens, 49.6% used screens within one hour of bedtime and 41.0% used screens in their bedrooms. In adjusted regression models, greater household chaos was positively associated with weekly screen use (P = 0.03) and use of screens within one hour of bedtime (P < 0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Children in the fourth versus the first quartile of household chaos were more likely to use screens in their bedroom (P = 0.03).ConclusionsGreater household chaos was associated with increased total screen use as well as screen use behaviors that are related to disrupted nighttime sleep. Findings suggest that household chaos may be an obesity risk factor during the preschool years because of such effects on screen use, and highlight the need to consider household chaos when implementing home-based obesity prevention programs for young children.
Highlights
Excess screen media use is a robust predictor of childhood obesity
Household chaos was inversely associated with annual household income (P = 0.04), differed by home ownership status (P < 0.001), and was positively associated with the number of children in the home under the age of 12 years (P < 0.001; Table 1)
The objectives of this study were to assess the associations between household chaos and measures of screen use that are related to an increased obesity risk among preschool-aged children
Summary
Excess screen media use is a robust predictor of childhood obesity. Understanding how household factors may affect children’s screen use is needed to tailor effective intervention efforts. The preschool years are a critical time for obesity prevention, and while it is likely that greater household disorder influences preschool-aged children’s screen use, data on that relationship are absent. Excess weight in childhood increases the risk for many health problems [2], including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [3] and type 2 diabetes [4]. Children who are overweight by the age of 5 are 4–5 times more likely to be obese as adolescents compared to their normal weight peers [5, 6]. Given that adult obesity is a considerable risk factor for several comorbidities [11] including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and several types of cancers [12], preventing excess weight gain during early childhood is an important way to help children achieve optimal health throughout their lifetime
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