Are play and screen time associated with British preschoolers' mental health? Cross-sectional findings from the British Preschool Children's Play Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To investigate associations between adventurous play, outdoor play and screen time and mental health (MH) in British preschool-aged children.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

A nationally representative sample of caregivers of 2-4 years old (n=1066) in England, Scotland and Wales (Britain), recruited through an online research data and analytics group (YouGov UK).

Participants

Caregivers of 1018 children provided valid complete-case data (age 2: n=298 (29%), age 3: n=365 (36%), age 4: n=355 (35%); female n=481 (47%); white: n=878 (81%)).

Outcome measures

Four outcomes, derived from parent-report questionnaires: internalising and externalising scores (using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and positive and negative affect scores (us

SUBMITTER: Hesketh KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12863345 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature