Parental Internet Use and Lifestyle Factors as Correlates of Prolonged Screen Time of Children in Japan: Results From the Super Shokuiku School Project.

Masaaki Yamada,Michikazu Sekine,Takashi Tatsuse

doi:10.2188/jea.je20170100

Abstract

BackgroundProlonged screen time (ST), which includes TV viewing and gaming on smartphones and computers, is linked to poor health. Our aim was to explore the associations between school children with prolonged ST and parental internet use (IU) and lifestyles in Japan.MethodsChildren aged 6 to 13 years from the Super Shokuiku School Project, were surveyed using questionnaires in 2016. The survey assessed the grade, sex, and lifestyle of 1,659 children and parental internet use (IU) and lifestyle using Breslow’s seven health behaviors. IU consisted of internet surfing and gaming on personal computers (PC), smartphones, or consoles. Three or more hours of ST was defined as prolonged ST, and its correlates were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsOf all, 643 (38.8%) children spent ≥2 hours/day of ST on a week day, whilst 153 (9.2%) children spent ≥3 hours/day. Prolonged ST was significantly associated with children in higher grade (odds ratio [OR] 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–2.51), boys (OR 2.16; 95% CI, 1.49–3.14), skipping breakfast (OR 1.88; 95% CI, 1.05–3.35), late bedtime (OR 1.80; 95% CI, 1.15–2.82), physical inactivity (OR 1.79; 95% CI, 1.12–2.87), father’s IU ≥2 hours/day (OR 2.35; 95% CI, 1.52–3.63), mother’s prolonged IU ≥2 hours/day (OR 2.55; 95% CI, 1.43–4.52), mothers with unhealthy behaviors (OR 1.81; 95% CI, 1.05–3.13), no rule setting governing screen time (OR 2.41; 95% CI, 1.63–3.58), and mothers with full-time employment (OR 1.95; 95% CI, 1.06–3.64).ConclusionsProlonged ST among Japanese children was strongly associated with parental IU, no set rules for ST, and mother’s unhealthy lifestyles. To reduce children’s ST, parental engagement is warranted in the intervention strategy.

Highlights

New information and communication technologies have become common for children and adults in Japan
Prolonged ST was significantly associated with children in higher grade, boys, skipping breakfast, late bedtime, physical inactivity, father’s internet use (IU) ≥2 hours=day, mother’s prolonged IU ≥2 hours=day, mothers with unhealthy behaviors, no rule setting governing screen time, and mothers with full-time employment
Prolonged ST among Japanese children was strongly associated with parental IU, no set rules for ST, and mother’s unhealthy lifestyles

Summary

Introduction

New information and communication technologies have become common for children and adults in Japan. A 2016 white paper from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications indicated that the average time of TV viewing for Japanese adults was about 3 hours=day, and internet use was about 1.5 hours=day in 2015.1 While the length of time for viewing TV remains unchanged, that of internet use among adult has been increasing steadily (from 71.6 in 2012 to 90.4 minutes in 2015).[1] the use of these media are becoming essential for children and adults, there have been a number of reports on the harmful effects of prolonged screen time (ST) in children,[2] which includes viewing of videos and TV, gaming on consoles or smartphones, and internet use (IU). Our aim was to explore the associations between school children with prolonged ST and parental internet use (IU) and lifestyles in Japan

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion