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1-year above-recommendation screen use and internalizing and externalizing behaviours in French children aged 3 to 14 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

A. Descarpentry*
Affiliation:
Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif
C. Davisse-Paturet
Affiliation:
Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif
C. Galera
Affiliation:
Inserm U 1219, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center Université de Bordeaux Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Bordeaux
J.-B. Hazo
Affiliation:
DREES - Direction de la Recherche, des Etudes, de l’évaluation et des statistiques
M. Melchior
Affiliation:
Inserm Sorbonne Université, IPLESP, ERES UMRS 1136, Paris
A. Rouquette
Affiliation:
Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif Epidemiology and Public Health Service, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The context of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily life of families and children. Screen exposure was increased during this period to maintain social relationships, work remotely, and occupy leisure time.

Objectives

To explore the association of continued above-recommendation screen use for one year since May 2020 with behaviour problems in the summer of 2021 in children aged 3 to 14 years.

Methods

Data came from the French EpiCov cohort study, and were collected in May 2020 and at first (Autumn 2020) and second follow-up (Summer 2021) among 1,089 participants with children aged 3 to 14. Children had a 1-year above-recommendation screen use if their daily mean time exceeded recommendations at the three follow-up times (one hour, for children aged 3-5, two for the older ones). Behaviour problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and valid cut-offs for Internalizing (emotional or peer problems) and Externalizing (conduct problems or hyperactivity/inattention) problems completed in summer 2021. Data were analysed using adjusted logistic regression.

Results

1-year above-recommendation screen use was not associated with internalizing problems (OR [95% CI]: 1.20 [0.90-1.59]). Regarding the subscales, it was associated with a higher risk of peer problems (1.42 [1.04-1.95]). A higher risk of externalizing problems was found only in 11-14-year-olds (1.63 [1.01-2.63]), especially conduct problems in 11-14-year-olds (1.91 [1.15-3.22]) but not in other age groups.

Conclusions

This study found that maintaining screen time beyond recommendations for 1 year since the onset of the pandemic was associated with peer problems in children aged 3-14 years and externalizing and conduct problems in 11-14 years. Despite this very specific context, exposure to screens is not trivial. If this situation were to occur again, we would have to anticipate, with prevention messages, by keeping schools open.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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