Association Between Screen Time and Children’s Performance on a Developmental Screening Test

TLDR

Excessive screen time is linked to developmental delays, but the direction of its effect on developmental screening test scores remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether increased screen time predicts lower developmental screening scores or whether poorer performance leads to more screen time among children. Using a 3‑wave cross‑lagged panel model, the authors analyzed data from 2,441 mother‑child pairs in Calgary, Canada, at ages 24, 36, and 60 months, collected between 2011 and 2016 and analyzed in 2018. Results showed that higher screen time at 24 and 36 months was associated with poorer developmental scores at 36 and 60 months (β = −0.06 and −0.08, respectively), confirming a directional link and suggesting family media plans to reduce excess use.

Abstract

Excessive screen time is associated with delays in development; however, it is unclear if greater screen time predicts lower performance scores on developmental screening tests or if children with poor developmental performance receive added screen time as a way to modulate challenging behavior.To assess the directional association between screen time and child development in a population of mothers and children.This longitudinal cohort study used a 3-wave, cross-lagged panel model in 2441 mothers and children in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, drawn from the All Our Families study. Data were available when children were aged 24, 36, and 60 months. Data were collected between October 20, 2011, and October 6, 2016. Statistical analyses were conducted from July 31 to November 15, 2018.Media.At age 24, 36, and 60 months, children's screen-time behavior (total hours per week) and developmental outcomes (Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition) were assessed via maternal report.Of the 2441 children included in the analysis, 1227 (50.2%) were boys. A random-intercepts, cross-lagged panel model revealed that higher levels of screen time at 24 and 36 months were significantly associated with poorer performance on developmental screening tests at 36 months (β, -0.06; 95% CI, -0.10 to -0.01) and 60 months (β, -0.08; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.02), respectively. These within-person (time-varying) associations statistically controlled for between-person (stable) differences.The results of this study support the directional association between screen time and child development. Recommendations include encouraging family media plans, as well as managing screen time, to offset the potential consequences of excess use.