Individual and social predictors of screen-viewing among Spanish school children

Abstract

Many children exceed suggested screen-viewing guidelines and this is likely to be a risk factor for obesity. Understanding the predictors of screen-viewing may be the first step in designing interventions that target these behaviours, but there is lack of information on predictors among Spanish children. This study examined associations between individual, friend and family based social variables and screen-viewing behaviours, and how these associations differ by age and gender in a sample of Spanish children. Participants were 247 primary school-aged and 256 secondary school-aged children and their parents. Children reported time spent in screen-viewing and information about individual and friend and family based social variables. Body mass index was assessed and children were classified using International Obesity Task Force cut-off points. Parents reported sociodemographic characteristics and family co-viewing practices. Lower self-efficacy for reducing screen-viewing (console playing p < 0.05; overall p < 0.01), stronger sedentary group-norms (TV p < 0.001; console playing p < 0.05; overall p < 0.05) and stronger social reasons (console playing p < 0.05) were associated with higher screen-viewing. For younger children, parental screen-viewing rules appeared to be significant predictors while family co-viewing practices were significant predictors for older children. Older children (TV p < 0.001; console playing p < 0.01; overall p < 0.001) and males (TV p < 0.01; console playing p < 0.001; overall p < 0.01) were likely to spend more time screen-viewing. Individual and social factors influence children's screen-viewing and operate differently during childhood. Increasing self-efficacy may be important for screen-viewing based behaviour changes. Friends and parents play a central role, therefore understanding the dynamics of friends and targeting family influences may be critical to the success of interventions to reduce screen-viewing.

Screen viewing, body mass index, cigarette smoking and sleep duration in Belgrade University student population: results of an observational, cross-sectional study

“…This is in accordance with the fi ndings of other authors that male subjects are in some circumstances likely to spend more time on screen-viewing than females 21 . The lack of correlation between screen viewing and BMI, indicates that TV and personal computer use, are not signifi cant factors affecting body mass in student population in Belgrade.…”

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in European children: the IDEFICS study

“…Another important finding of our study was the high proportion of older participants not meeting screen time recommendations during weekend days (71 % of males and 57 % of females). Previous research has also suggested higher screenviewing time in older children (21) . We also observed a high proportion of males watching TV in excess, unlike in three reviews with a variety of age groups which reported no gender differences (3,8,22) .…”

Patterns of sedentary behavior and compliance with public health recommendations in Spanish adolescents: the AFINOS study

“…However, when it comes to large samples of Spanish adolescents, data is limited to TV viewing behavior 9 and little is known about wider sedentary behavior among this age group in this country 7,8 . Likewise, the level of compliance with public health recommendations for sedentary behavior is practically unknown 8 .…”

“…However, when it comes to large samples of Spanish adolescents, data is limited to TV viewing behavior 9 and little is known about wider sedentary behavior among this age group in this country 7,8 . Likewise, the level of compliance with public health recommendations for sedentary behavior is practically unknown 8 . From a public health perspective, this study has the following two-fold aim: (i) describe patterns of sedentary behavior in Spanish adolescents; and (ii) determine the proportion of adolescents that do not meet public health recommendations for sedentary behavior.…”