Reference
Vohr, B. R., McGowan, E. C., Bann, C., Das, A., Higgins, R., Hintz, S., & Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. (2021). Association of High Screen-Time Use With School-age Cognitive, Executive Function, and Behavior Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Children. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(10), 1025-1034. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2041
Review
In a cohort study conducted by Vohr et al. (2021), the authors assessed the association of high screen time with cognitive, language, executive function, and behavior outcomes in extremely preterm children (EPT) aged 6 to 7 years. The secondary objective of the study was to examine the association between high screen time and rates of structured physical activity and weight.
The study included 414 EPT children born between February 1, 2005, and February 28, 2009, and evaluated between 2012 and 2016. The cohorts were divided into children exposed to low (≤2 hours per day) vs. high (>2 hours per day) amounts of screen time and by the presence (no vs. yes) of a television/computer in the bedroom.
The findings of the study revealed that high screen time was independently associated with lower full-scale IQ, and increased deficits in executive functions, including metacognition, global executive function, inhibition, and Conners 3rd Edition–Parent Short-Form inattention. Additionally, a television/computer in the bedroom was associated with an increase in inhibition and hyperactivity/impulsivity problems.
The authors concluded that high screen time contributes to adverse cognitive, executive function, and behavior outcomes at ages 6 to 7 years in children born at less than 28 weeks. This study emphasizes the need for clinicians to be aware of the risks for EPT children and discuss both the benefits and risks of screen time with families.
