The role of sleep in prospective associations between parent reported youth screen media activity and behavioral health.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Screen media activity (SMA) can negatively affect youth behavioral health. Sleep may mediate this association but has not been previously explored. We examined whether sleep mediated the association between SMA and youth behavioral health among a community sample.

Method

Parents completed questions about their child (N = 564) ages 3-17 at Wave 1, Wave 2 (4-8 months later), and Wave 3 (12 months later). Path analyses were conducted to examine links between Wave 1 SMA and Wave 3 behavioral health problems (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, attention, peer problems) through Wave 2 sleep disturbance and duration.

Results

SMA was significantly associated with greater sleep disturbance, β = .11, 95% CI [.01, .21] and shorter sleep duration, β = -.16 [-.25, -.06

SUBMITTER: Rojo-Wissar DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11184563 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature