Another Reason to Turn off the TV?
Earlier this year a major medical journal published a study examining the relationship between children watching television and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Pediatrics, 2004 Apr; 113:708-13). The researchers at Washington State University analyzed mothers' reports of children watching TV. The data came from the mothers' responses to 5 questions about their children. Here is the abstract:
Objective. Cross-sectional research has suggested that television viewing may be associated with decreased attention spans in children. However, longitudinal data of early television exposure and subsequent attentional problems have been lacking. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that early television exposure (at ages 1 and 3) is associated with attentional problems at age 7.
Methods. We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, a representative longitudinal data set. Our main outcome was the hyperactivity subscale of the Behavioral Problems Index determined on all participants at age 7. Children who were 1.2 standard deviations above the mean were classified as having attentional problems. Our main predictor was hours of television watched daily at ages 1 and 3 years.
Results. Data were available for 1278 children at age 1 and 1345 children at age 3. Ten percent of children had attentional problems at age 7. In a logistic regression model, hours of television viewed per day at both ages 1 and 3 was associated with attentional problems at age 7 (1.09 [1.03–1.15] and 1.09 [1.02–1.16]), respectively.
Conclusions. Early television exposure is associated with attentional problems at age 7. Efforts to limit television viewing in early childhood may be warranted, and additional research is needed.
It should be noted that these results do not prove that watching TV causes ADHD, and even the authors admit that the data collection was for "attention problems", not necessarily ADHD. However, it is a valuable study in that it provides a caution to carelessly using the television as a babysitter.
What in the world does this have to do with the Truth Fellowship? As I understand it, the Workers are universally opposed to owning a television, and this study provides ammunition for their position. There is a difference, though. The authors of this study concluded that parents should use caution, while the Workers reject TV outright. The theological and philosophical reasons for the ban on TV in the Truth Fellowship will be the subject of an upcoming article here at PTO.
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