https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/147/6/e2020011429

Video Abstract

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/147/6/e2020011429

What’s Known on This Subject:

Book reading is a critical element of the home environment that promotes school readiness and academic achievement. With increasing use of media devices, longitudinal research is needed to determine if screen use is interfering with off-line activities such as reading.

What This Study Adds:

Findings support a dynamic relationship whereby screen use at 24 months leads to lower reading at 36 months, which in turn leads to greater screen use at 60 months. Families should be encouraged to engage in device-free time.

COMPANION PAPER: A companion to this article can be found online at www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2020-047472.

Copyright © 2021 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Abstract

Objectives This study investigated the frequency of electronic media (e-media) usage by preschool children and the risks of high-dose e-media use on young children’s psychosocial well-being.

Design Longitudinal associations between e-media use at 18 months and psychosocial symptoms at 5 years of age were studied, as well as cross-sectional associations between e-media use and psychosocial symptoms at 5 years.

Setting Between 2011 and 2017 in Finland.

Participants Children aged 5 years (n=699).

Primary and secondary outcome measures Children’s psychosocial symptoms were determined at the age of 5 years using the parent-reported questionnaires Five-to-Fifteen (FTF) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Results Based on our results, 95% of the preschool children exceeded the daily recommended use of e-media set by health professionals. Our results indicate that increased screen time at 5 years of age is associated with a risk of multiple psychosocial symptoms (OR 1.53–2.18, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.34, p<0.05), while increased levels of e-media use at 18 months was only associated with FTF peer problems (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.41, p=0.03). Moreover, high-dose use of electronic games at the age of 5 years seems to be associated with fewer risks for psychosocial well-being than programme viewing, as it was only associated with SDQ hyperactivity (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.51, p=0.02).

Conclusion Increased screen time has multiple risks for children’s psychosocial well-being. These risk factors seem to be significant in the long term, and are related to problems in children’s socio-emotional development later on. Health professionals and paediatricians have an important role as communicators of the current research results on the safe usage time of e-media for families, and enhancing parents’ skills as regulators of children’s safe e-media use. More research is needed on the family conditions of high-dose e-media users.

Strengths and limitations of this study

• A major strength of our study is the longitudinal study setting and repeated measurement of e-media exposure.
• Patterns of children’s e-media use are rapidly changing, and our study offers results on the associations of young children’s e-media usage with their psychosocial well-being based on recent data.
• Moreover, the sample is based on a representative birth cohort recruited during pregnancy.
• A limitation of our study is the measurement of e-media use, which was based on parental questionnaires and not logs.
• Single mothers as well as those with lower education seem to be under-represented in the sample.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/3/e040848

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Abstract

As a neurotoxicant, lead (Pb) primarily affects central nervous system, and particularly impacts developing brain. This study explores the associations of blood Pb level and children’s behavioral health. A total of 213 preschool children aged 3-7 years old were recruited from Guiyu (the e-waste-exposed area) and Haojiang (the reference area). The behavioral health of children was assessed using the ‘behavioral symptoms’ subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results showed that there was a significant difference in percent of children categorized as “at risk” between Guiyu (48.2%) and Haojiang (13.9%) (p < 0.001). The blood Pb level of children in Guiyu was significantly higher than those in Haojiang (median: 5.19 μg/dL vs. 3.42 μg/dL, p < 0.001). The serum Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was significantly lower in Guiyu children than those in Haojiang. Spearman correlation analyses demonstrated that blood Pb levels was negatively correlated with NPY (r_s = -0.25, p < 0.001), but positively correlated with behavioral symptom scores; while serum NPY levels were negatively associated with behavioral symptom scores. Behavioral symptom scores were higher in children with blood Pb level ≥5.00 μg/dL (high) than those with blood Pb level < 5.00 μg/dL (low). After adjusting for confounding factors, children with lower NPY levels were at higher risk of having behavioral difficulties. In conclusion, Pb exposure in e-waste-exposed areas may lead to decrease in serum NPY and increase in the risk of children’s behavioral problems. In addition, NPY may mediate the association between Pb exposure and behavioral difficulties.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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