Association of Television Viewing During Childhood With Poor Educational Achievement

Robert John Hancox · Barry John Milne · Richie Poulton

276 citations0/0 files storedArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

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Child Development and Digital Technology Physical Activity and Health Media Influence and Health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excessive television viewing in childhood has been associated with adverse effects on health and behavior. A common concern is that watching too much television may also have a negative impact on education. However, no long-term studies have measured childhood viewing and educational achievement. OBJECTIVE: To explore these associations in a birth cohort followed up to adulthood. DESIGN: Prospective birth cohort study. SETTING: Dunedin, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 1000 unselected individuals born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973. Ninety-six percent of the living cohort participated at 26 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Educational achievement by 26 years of age. RESULTS: The mean time spent watching television during childhood and adolescence was significantly associated with leaving school without qualifications and negatively associated with attaining a university degree. Risk ratios for each hour of television viewing per weeknight, adjusted for IQ and sex, were 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.65) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.67-0.85), respectively (both, P<.001). The findings were similar in men and women and persisted after further adjustment for socioeconomic status and early childhood behavioral problems. Television viewing during childhood (ages 5-11 years) and adolescence (ages 13 and 15 years) had adverse associations with later educational achievement. However, adolescent viewing was a stronger predictor of leaving school without qualifications, whereas childhood viewing was a stronger predictor of nonattainment of a university degree. CONCLUSIONS: Television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with poor educational achievement by 26 years of age. Excessive television viewing in childhood may have long-lasting adverse consequences for educational achievement and subsequent socioeconomic status and well-being.

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References

2001Children, Adolescents, and Television 2004Early Television Exposure and Subsequent Attentional Problems in Children 2001Abstract 1996From child to adult : the Dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study 2001The Relations of Early Television Viewing to School Readiness and Vocabulary of Children from Low-Income Families: The Early Window Project

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