Screen-related Sedentary Behaviors: Children's and Parents' Attitudes, Motivations, and Practices
published online 16 November 2009.
Abstract
Objective
To investigate school-aged children's and parents' attitudes, social influences, and intentions toward excessive screen-related sedentary behavior (S-RSB).
Design
A cross-sectional study using a survey methodology.
Setting
Elementary schools in London, Ontario, Canada.
Participants
All grades 5 and 6 students, their parents, and their teachers in the participating schools were invited to voluntarily participate; 508 student–parent pairs completed the surveys.
Main Outcome Measure
Children's screen-related behaviors.
Analysis
Data were analyzed using the Independent Student t test to compare differences of continuous variables and the chi-square test to test for differences of categorical variables.
Results
Children spent 3.3 ± 0.15 (standard error) hours per day engaged in screen-related activities. Entertainment, spending time with family, and boredom were cited as the top 3 reasons for television viewing and video game playing. Compared to “low-screen users” (ie, < 2 hours/day), “high-screen users” (ie, ≥ 2 hours/day) had a less negative attitude toward excessive S-RSB and perceived loosened parental rules on screen use. Parents of high-screen users had a less negative attitude toward children's S-RSB, had fewer rules about their children's screen use, and were more likely to be sedentary themselves.
Conclusions and Implications
Intervention strategies aimed at reducing S-RSB should involve both parents and children and should focus on fostering behavioral changes and promoting parental role modeling.
1Public Health Research, Education and Development Program, Middlesex–London Health Unit, London, Ontario, Canada
2Department of Health and Kinesiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
3Brescia University College, London, Ontario, Canada
4The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Address for correspondence: Dr. Meizi He, University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Health and Kinesiology, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249; Phone: (210) 458-5416; Fax: (210) 458-5873
Dr. Meizi He is now affiliated with the Public Health Research, Education and Development Program, Middlesex-London Health Unit, London, Ontario, Canada and the Department of Health and Kinesiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio.
ABSTRACT