Association between maternal and infant screen-time with child growth and development: A longitudinal study

Authors: KRACHT, CHELSEA - Pennington Biomedical Research Center; REDMAN, LEANNE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center; BELLANDO, JAYNE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); KRUKOWSKI, REBECCA - University Of Virginia; ANDRES, ALINE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Pediatric Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2023
Publication Date: 4/2/2023
Citation: Kracht, C.L., Redman, L.M., Bellando, J., Krukowski, R.A., Andres, A. 2023. Association between maternal and infant screen-time with child growth and development: A longitudinal study. Pediatric Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.13033.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.13033

Interpretive Summary: This study examined the relationship between maternal and infant screen-time with child growth and development. Screen-time was assessed in mothers during pregnancy. Screen time was assessed in children at 3-months, 12-months, and 24-months of age. Children growth and body composition were measured. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III were used to assess child development. In this study, most mother/child pairs were White, and half of children were boys. The study found that both girls and boys significantly increased screen-time between 12-months and 24-months. The study also found that screen-time at 12-months was positively associated with fat mass index in boys, whereas pregnancy screen-time was negatively associated with 12-month motor skills in girls. In conclusion, greater maternal and infant screen-time was related to diminished motor skills and higher adiposity. Reducing screen-time during pregnancy and infancy may benefit child health, though replication in large diverse samples is needed.

Technical Abstract: Sedentary screen-time is an early modifiable risk factor for obesity and poor child development. To examine the relationship between maternal and infant screen-time with child growth and development. Pregnant women were recruited for a cohort study related to maternal and infant development. Screen-time was assessed in mothers during pregnancy, and subsequently in children at 3-months, 12-months, and 24-months of age. Anthropometry was measured and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging quantified fat mass, and fat mass index (FMI) was calculated. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III were used to assess child development. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between screen-time and child growth and development adjusted for covariates and stratified by sex. Mother/child dyads (n=89) were mainly white (92.1%), and half were boys (52%). Both sexes increased screen-time between 12-months and 24-months (ps<0.05). In adjusted models, screen-time at 12-months was positively associated with FMI in boys, and pregnancy screen-time was negatively associated with 12-month motor skills in girls at 12-months (ps<0.05). Greater maternal and infant screen-time was related to diminished motor skills and higher adiposity. Reducing screen-time during pregnancy and infancy may benefit child health, though replication in large diverse samples is needed.