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Screen Time and Sleep of Rural and Urban South African Preschool Children

Author

Listed:
  • Simone A. Tomaz

    (Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
    Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK)

  • Trina Hinkley

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3125, Australia)

  • Rachel A. Jones

    (Early Start, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2500, Australia)

  • Estelle D. Watson

    (Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

  • Rhian Twine

    (MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

  • Kathleen Kahn

    (MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

  • Shane A. Norris

    (South African MRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

  • Catherine E. Draper

    (Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
    South African MRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which preschool children meet guidelines for screen time (<1 h/day) and sleep (10–13 h/24-h) and explored home factors that affect these behaviors. Parents of preschoolers across income settings in South Africa (urban high-income n = 27, urban low-income n = 96 and rural low-income n = 142) completed a questionnaire. Urban high-income children had higher rates of exceeding screen time guidelines (67.0%) than children from urban low-income (26.0%) and rural low-income (3.5%) settings. Most children (81.0%) met sleep guidelines on weekdays and on weekends (75.0%). More urban high-income children met the sleep guideline, in comparison to both low-income settings. Fewer urban high-income parents (50.0%) thought that screen time would not affect their preschooler’s health, compared to urban low-income (90.4%) and rural low-income (81.7%) parents. Weeknight bedtime was positively correlated with both weekday screen time ( p = 0.001) and weekday TV time ( p = 0.005), indicating that more time on screens correlated with later bedtimes. Meeting screen time and sleep guidelines differs across income settings, but it is evident that parents of preschoolers across all income settings would benefit from greater awareness about guidelines.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone A. Tomaz & Trina Hinkley & Rachel A. Jones & Estelle D. Watson & Rhian Twine & Kathleen Kahn & Shane A. Norris & Catherine E. Draper, 2020. "Screen Time and Sleep of Rural and Urban South African Preschool Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5449-:d:391264
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Weizhen Gao & Yanfeng Zhang & Dongming Wu & Yanhui Dong & Na Liu & Huan Wang, 2022. "Compliance with Health-Related Behaviors Guidelines and Its Relationship with Multiple Factors in Preschool Children Aged 3–6 Years: A National Cross-Sectional Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Elina Hasanen & Henriikka Koivukoski & Lauri Kortelainen & Hanna Vehmas & Arja Sääkslahti, 2021. "Sociodemographic Correlates of Parental Co-Participation in Digital Media Use and Physical Play of Preschool-Age Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-19, May.

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