Increased risk of exceeding entertainment-media guidelines in preschool children from low socioeconomic background: The Generation R Study

ObjectiveTo describe and explain the association between maternal educational level and television viewing time among preschool children.MethodWe analyzed data from 2786 preschoolers enrolled in a birth cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between 2002 and 2006. Odds ratios of watching television ≥ 2 hours/day and ≥ 1 hour/day were calculated for children of mothers with low, mid-low, and mid-high educational level (reference group: high educational level), before and after adjustment for mediators.ResultsChildren of low, mid-low, and mid-high educated mothers were more likely to watch television ≥ 2 hours/day compared to children of high educated mothers, with children of low educated mother showing the highest risk (OR: 11.32; 95% CI: 6.58, 19.46). Adjustment for mediators (i.e. maternal body mass index, parental television viewing, presence of a television set in the child's bedroom, and financial difficulties) led to a nearly 50% reduction in odds ratio for the lowest educational group (OR: 6.61; 95% CI: 3.69, 11.84). A similar educational gradient was found for watching television ≥ 1 hour/day, although effect estimates were smaller.ConclusionMaternal education is inversely associated with preschoolers' television viewing time. This association was partly explained by known correlates of children's television viewing.

► Maternal educational level is inversely associated with preschoolers' TV time.
► Nearly half of the effect of low maternal educational level could be explained.
► Parental TV time was the strongest mediator of the association.