Wesley Sanders

Youth Screen Time and Behavioral Health Problems: The Role of Sleep Duration and Disturbances.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the indirect effect of youth screen time (e.g., television, computers, smartphones, video games, and tablets) on behavioral health problems (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and peer problems) through sleep duration and disturbances. Methods: The authors assessed a community sample of parents with a child in one of the following three developmental stages: young childhood (3–7 yrs; N = 209), middle childhood (8–12 yrs; N = 202), and adolescence (13–17 yrs; N = 210). Path analysis was used to test the hypothesized indirect effect model. Results: Findings indicated that, regardless of the developmental stage of the youth, higher levels of youth screen time were associated with more sleep disturbances, which, in turn, were linked to higher levels of youth behavioral health problems. Conclusion: Children who have increased screen time are more likely to have poor sleep quality and problem behaviors.

The roles of general and technology-related parenting in managing youth screen time.

This study examines the associations of 2 types of parenting practices-general adaptive parenting and technology-related strategies-with youth screen time. We hypothesized that technology-related parenting focused on behavioral control would relate directly to screen time and serve to link general parenting to screen time. Participants were 615 parents drawn from 3 community samples of families with children across 3 development stages: young childhood (3-7 years; n = 210), middle childhood (8-12 years; n = 200), and adolescents (13-17 years; n = 205). Using structural equation modeling, we found that general adaptive parenting was not related to child screen time but was positively related to technology-related parenting strategies for all 3 samples. For the young and, to some extent, middle childhood samples, but not for the adolescent sample, general adaptive parenting was positively linked to youth screen time through technology-related parenting strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Longitudinal Impact of Screen Time on Adolescent Development: Moderation by Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia

PURPOSE To date, little is known about underlying psychophysiological contributions to the impact of media content and overall screen time on adolescent psychological functioning. In the present study we examine respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as a moderator of the link between specific types of media content use, overall media exposure, and the development of internalizing and aggressive symptoms in youth. METHODS A sample of 374 adolescents (mean age = 15) reported on their media use, internalizing behavior, and aggressive behavior at time 1 (2011) and 1-year follow-up (2012). RSA reactivity was gathered during a challenging laboratory task. Path analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized three-way interaction model between media use, media content, and RSA reactivity, separately for internalizing and aggressive problems. RESULTS Significant interactions were found for aggressive, but not prosocial, media content. For aggressive content, youth exhibiting RSA withdrawal reported significantly greater internalizing and aggressive symptoms when exposed to higher amounts of screen time and aggressive content. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that profiles of heightened RSA withdrawal may place adolescents at greater risk to the negative impact of violent media, whereas prosocial media content may not significantly impact youth development of psychopathology. Implications for the role of psychophysiology in our understanding of media effects are discussed.

Parenting to Reduce Child Screen Time: A Feasibility Pilot Study

Objective: Excessive screen time has been associated with a multitude of child health problems. This pilot study examined the feasibility and preliminary outcome of a novel 1-session intervention designed to help parents reduce their childs screen time. Methods: Thirty-nine parents of 5- to 12-year-old children were randomized to the intervention (a combined didactics and hands-on approach focused on technology-specific parenting) or waitlist control group. Results: The findings suggested that a sample could be recruited in a reasonable time (6 wk) at a reasonable cost, randomized, and retained at 6 weeks postintervention. Preliminary evidence suggested the intervention, which was implemented with fidelity, was associated with change in technology-specific parenting and 1 of 2 measures of child screen time. Parents reported satisfaction with the intervention and confidence in managing their childs screen time. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that this 1-session intervention is a promising approach to managing child screen time.