Content, timing of TV can take toll on children's sleep
Sleep problems common in toddlers are made worse both by violent media content and greater evening use of televisions, computers or video games.
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Sleep problems common in toddlers are made worse both by violent media content and greater evening use of televisions, computers or video games.
To look into the link between television viewing and sleeping patterns, researchers reviewed parent surveys and media diaries from 617 preschoolers . The study used media diaries that recorded all screen time for the children - 55 percent of whom were boys and 18 percent from low-income families - across one week, noting the screen title of TV, video game or computer usage and later coding it for ratings, content and pacing. Researchers also focused on media use after 7 pm compared to the rest of the day, since median bedtimes in this age group were between 8 pm and 10 pm.
It was found that each additional hour of evening media use was linked to a significant jump in sleep problems, as was viewing of violent content at any time during the day. On an average, the children had nearly 73 minutes of screen time daily, with 14 minutes occurring after 7 pm. Children with TVs in their bedrooms logged more screen time and were more likely to have trouble sleeping. About 21 percent of pre-school children deal with at least two sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, repeated night waking or daytime tiredness.
Eighteen percent of study participants experienced at least one sleep problem five to seven days per week, the study said, and the most frequent issue was difficulty falling asleep. Children with a bedroom TV - who logged an additional 40 minutes of screen time each day - were eight times more likely to have parent-reported daytime tiredness.
The researchers recommended curtailing TV viewing by children in the hour before bedtime to ensure that a child doesn't experience disturbed sleep.
To look into the link between television viewing and sleeping patterns, researchers reviewed parent surveys and media diaries from 617 preschoolers . The study used media diaries that recorded all screen time for the children - 55 percent of whom were boys and 18 percent from low-income families - across one week, noting the screen title of TV, video game or computer usage and later coding it for ratings, content and pacing. Researchers also focused on media use after 7 pm compared to the rest of the day, since median bedtimes in this age group were between 8 pm and 10 pm.
It was found that each additional hour of evening media use was linked to a significant jump in sleep problems, as was viewing of violent content at any time during the day. On an average, the children had nearly 73 minutes of screen time daily, with 14 minutes occurring after 7 pm. Children with TVs in their bedrooms logged more screen time and were more likely to have trouble sleeping. About 21 percent of pre-school children deal with at least two sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, repeated night waking or daytime tiredness.
Eighteen percent of study participants experienced at least one sleep problem five to seven days per week, the study said, and the most frequent issue was difficulty falling asleep. Children with a bedroom TV - who logged an additional 40 minutes of screen time each day - were eight times more likely to have parent-reported daytime tiredness.
The researchers recommended curtailing TV viewing by children in the hour before bedtime to ensure that a child doesn't experience disturbed sleep.
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