Association between screen time in different developmental stages and children's executive function

Objective To explore the association between screen time in different developmental stages and executive function (EF),and to provide reference for promoting children's mental and physical health.Methods With informed consent,children in grade 1 and 2 from 2 primary schools in Bengbu city and their parents were invited to participate,and a total of I 269 complete parents' questionnaires were collected.The average daily screen time in early childhood(0-3 years old),pre-school(3-6 years old) and current weekdays and weekends (school age) were collected from parents' questionnaire survey.Executive function was assessed by Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool (BRIEF-P).Score of behavioral regulation index(BRI),metacognition index(MI) and global executive composite(GEC) were evaluated.Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on physical examination.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was recruited to examine the association between screen time at different developmental stages and the indexes of EF.Results About 13.1% and 24.5% of children had 1-2 h/d screen time during early childhood and pre-school period,and 4.3% and 8.4% had ≥2 h/d,respectively.The students who had screen time ≥2 h/d during weekdays and weekends accounted for 15.6% and 74.2% of all children.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the no screen time group in early childhood,those who had screen time <0.5 h/d,(0.5-1) h/d,(1-2) h/d and ≥2 h/d had significantly higher BRI T(OR=1.880,1.894,2.125,3.110,P<0.05).In the group who had screen time (0.5-1) h/d and ≥2 h/d had significantly higher GEC T(OR=1.776,2.344,P<0.05).Compared with the group who had screen time <0.5 h/d in preschool,those who had screen time (0.5-1) h/d,(1-2) h/d and ≥2 h/d had significantly higher BRI T(OR =1.828,2.304,2.293,P<0.05).In the group who had screen time 1-2 h/d had significantly higher MIT(OR=2.036,P<0.05).And who had screen time (0.5-1.0) h/d,(1-2) h/d and ≥2 h/d had significantly higher GEC T(OR=1.640,2.304,2.109,P<0.05).The influence of the screen time on the indexes of EF was of no statistical significance.Conclusion A large proportion of school-aged children had screen time more than 2 h/d,especially during weekends.Screen time more than 0.5 h/d during early childhood and pre-school period closely correlates with sub-optimal performance in behavioral regulation,metacognition and global executive function.