Children watching 3 hours of TV a day in more fights

CHILDREN who watch television for more than three hours a day are more likely to get into fights, a report has found.

The study, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, states that five-year-olds who watch TV for three or more hours a day are increasingly likely to develop anti-social behaviour by the age of seven.

However, time spent playing computer or electronic games did not appear to impact on the children’s behaviour, and the researchers say the risk of such behaviour remains “very small”.

Prolonged screen viewing has been linked to behavioural and emotional problems in children, but most previous research has focused exclusively on television, and almost all has been carried out in the United States.

Psychologist Dr Aric Sigman has argued there is “a very significant danger” of children who spend over two hours a day using screen media becoming unable to read facial expressions and body language.

He is calling for guidelines to be implemented limiting children’s exposure to screen media, which he believes is becoming their prevalent pastime.

He said: “Developing empathy and compassion requires regular practice, and if children are staring at screen instead of interacting with each other, this becomes a real problem.”

Dr Sigman said the blood pressure of children who spent a lot of time watching screen media tended to rise, eliciting a fight-or-flight response. Conversely, blood pressure levels fell during activities such as reading.

The study examined the psychological and social impact of time spent watching TV and playing electronic games on children aged five to seven.

The mothers of 11,000 children were asked to describe how well-adjusted their offspring were using a questionnaire at the age of five and again at seven.

The questionnaire covered conduct, emotional symptoms, attention span and hyperactivity, difficulties making friends, empathy and concern for others.

The time the children spent watching television and playing electronic games at the age of five was also noted.

Two-thirds of the five-year-olds watched TV for one to three hours a day, with 15 per cent watching more than three hours. Fewer than one in 50 (2 per cent) watched no television.

The five-year-olds spent less time on electronic games, and only 3 per cent spent three or more hours doing so every day.

After taking account of factors such as parenting and family dynamics, watching television for three or more hours a day was significantly associated with a very small increased risk of antisocial behaviour between the ages of five and seven.

No specific link was found between excessive television viewing and other difficulties, such as attention issues.

The analysis also showed playing electronic games had no similar impact, although the researchers said that might reflect the fact that children spent less time playing games than they did watching TV.

The authors of the report said links between screen time and mental health may be indirect, such as increased sedentary behaviour or sleeping difficulties.

The study suggested “a cautionary approach” to screen entertainment in young children was justifiable in terms of potential effects on their wellbeing.