Parental Sedentary Restriction, Maternal Parenting Style, and Television Viewing Among 10- to 11-Year-Olds

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT:High TV-viewing levels are associated with a number of health risks. Parenting styles and practices have been associated with youth physical activity and dietary behaviors, but it is not clear whether parenting behaviors are associated with youth TV viewing. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Youths who have 2 parents who restrict sedentary time are less likely to watch large amounts of TV, whereas permissive parenting is associated with high levels of TV viewing. Restricting sedentary time and reducing permissive parenting may reduce youth TV viewing. abstract OBJECTIVE: To examine whether parenting styles or practices were associated with children's television (TV) viewing. METHODS:A total of 431 parent-child dyads (10-to 11-year-old children) from Bristol, United Kingdom, were included. Child and parent TV viewing were self-reported and categorized as Ͻ2, 2 to 4, or Ͼ4 hours/ day. Children reported maternal parenting style (authoritarian, authoritative, or permissive). Child-reported maternal and paternal sedentary restriction scores were combined to create a family-level restriction score. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine whether child TV viewing was predicted by parenting style or family restriction. RESULTS:A greater proportion of children with permissive mothers watched Ͼ4 hours of TV per day, compared with children with authoritarian or authoritative mothers (P ϭ .033). A greater proportion of children for whom both parents demonstrated high restriction watched Ͻ2 hours of TV per day (P Ͻ .001). The risk of watching 2 to 4 hours (vs Ͻ2 hours) of TV per day was 2.2 times higher for children from low-restriction families (P ϭ .010). The risk of watching Ͼ4 hours (vs Ͻ2 hours) of TV per day was 3.3 times higher for children from low-restriction families (P ϭ .013). The risk of watching Ͼ4 hours of TV per day was 5.2 times higher for children with permissive (versus authoritative) mothers (P ϭ .010). CONCLUSIONS:Clinicians need to talk directly with parents about the need to place limitations on children's screen time and to encourage both parents to reinforce restriction messages. Higher levels of television (TV) viewing have been associated with an increased risk of obesity 1 and increased psychological difficulties 2,3 among youths. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children's TV viewing should be limited to 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day. 4 Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2000 and 2006 indicated that 33% of youths exceeded the upper threshold of the AAP TV-viewing guidelines. Similarly, recent data from a crosssectional survey of 1013 children 10 to 11 years of age in Bristol, United Kingdom, showed that 27% of girls and 30% of boys in the study watched Ͼ2 hours of TV per day. 3 In addition, 20% of US youths 5 and 14% of UK youths 3 watched Ͼ4 hours of TV per day. Collectively, these studies illustrate the need to develop strategies to reduce TV-viewing time.The mediating-variable model suggests t...

Physical Activity and Screen-Media–Related Parenting Practices Have Different Associations with Children's Objectively Measured Physical Activity

“…Although restrictive TV parenting practices were associated with greater sedentary time and less MVPA in this sample, several studies have demonstrated that restrictive TV parenting practices were associated with less TV viewing among children, 10,14,15 which is, in itself, a desirable outcome; however, this was not assessed in this study. Some TV reduction interventions have successfully improved children's weight status, 31,32 and this effect was mediated by children's dietary intake in one of the studies, 31 suggesting that TV reduction is important for obesity prevention and treatment initiatives.…”

“…They are often considered in specific contexts, such as feeding, academics, or discipline. Eating, [5][6][7] PA, 8,9 and screenmedia-use 10 parenting practices were associated with corresponding healthy lifestyle behaviors among children.…”

“…10,14,15 Varied definitions and instruments have been used to assess PA parenting practices through child 16 or parent report. 9,17,18 Some of these instruments included restriction of screen media (TV viewing, computer, and videogame playing), particularly TV viewing, as a major part of the scale 18 or as a subfactor of the scale.…”

Association between sleep duration and overweight: the importance of parenting

“…More rules in general may include rules for bedtime, but explanations for results in present study might also be part of a bigger context of parenting style and parent-child interaction. For example, an authoritative parenting style, a parenting style characterized by a clear and firm direction, but also by warmth, flexibility and acceptance, is associated with a healthier lifestyle of the child, such as, less sedentary behaviour 27 and higher fruit consumption 28 and a healthier weight. 29 The association between television viewing and computer use and sleep duration is supported by several other studies.…”

Parenting Styles and Practices in Children's Obesogenic Behaviors: Scientific Gaps and Future Research Directions

“…This line of research has indicated that providing structure and guidance, such as setting limits on how much time a child can spend using screen media or the placement of screen media devices in the home (e.g., in common areas such as the living room rather than in a child's bedroom), are associated with lower screen media use. 20 Parenting and Children's Obesogenic Behaviors: Scientific Gaps…”