Relationship between screen time and gross motor development among preschool children / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To analyze the relationship between screen time and gross motor development and to provide scientific basis for health promotion among preschool children.@*Methods@#In March 2021, gross motor of 373 children from 5 kindergartens in Baotou was tested by Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD). Screen time (ST) was collected by parental questionnaire. Paired t-test was used to compare the screen time between working days and weekends, and independent sample t-test was used to compare the differences of children s motor development between different sexes.@*Results@#ST of children was (52.10±31.67) min/d during the week and (65.79±10.36) min/d during the weekend. There were significant differences in the total scores of gross motor and mobile motor of children in different sexes( t=2.35, 2.65, P <0.05). The correlation between total screen time and gross motor, mobile motor and operant motor was statistically significant ( r =-0.22--0.20, P <0.01). Multiple linear regression showed that the time spent watching TV and the time spent using mobile phones during the week were the main factors affecting the gross motor development.@*Conclusion@#There is a significant negative correlation between children s screen time and gross motor development. It is important to reduce the time spent on TV and mobile phone to improve childhood gross motor development.