“If there wasn't the technology then I would probably be out everyday”: A qualitative study of children's strategies to reduce their screen viewing

Abstract

Objective

To explore the views of British 10–11 year old children towards reducing their screen-viewing and their screen-viewing reduction strategies.

Method

10 focus groups were conducted with 55 10–11 year old children (30 girls, 25 boys) in Bristol (UK) in 2010. Data were transcribed and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Three main themes were developed: Reaction to Reduction; Reduction: What, when and what else instead?; and Strategies to reduce screen-viewing. Participants reacted largely positively to reducing their screen-viewing although enjoyment, established routines and favourite TV programmes presented barriers. A range of screen-viewing modes were put forward as candidates for reduction and participants believed they would replace screen-viewing with both physically active and non-screen sedentary behaviours. Reduction strategies identified comprised the provision of alternative activities, facilities and after school clubs, peer-led educational interventions, behavioural strategies such as the use of rewards, charts and time limits which involved children's parents and parent–child collaboration. Unexpectedly, participants identified the focus group itself as a means of encouraging self-reflection and initiating change.

Conclusion

Children appeared open to screen-viewing reduction and identified the strategies that they may respond to best. This can inform the development of interventions designed to reduce screen-viewing.

Introduction

Screen-viewing (SV) behaviours (i.e., watching television [TV], playing computer/video games, or using a desktop, laptop or handheld computer) are sedentary pastimes central to the lives of children in developed countries (Marshall et al., 2006, Olds et al., 2006). Many children in Europe (Jago et al., 2008) and the United States (Anderson et al., 2008) exceed recommendations of 2 h/day of total screen/entertainment media time (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001). Some studies have shown positive associations between children's SV and body weight (Gorely et al., 2004), adiposity (Ekelund et al., 2006), metabolic syndrome (Mark and Janssen, 2008), lower psychological well-being (Hamer et al., 2009, Page et al., 2010) and poor adult health (Hancox et al., 2004). It is therefore important to develop strategies to reduce children's SV and one way to do this is to add qualitative data to the existing quantitative data and base interventions on the experiences and preferences of the target group.

Previous research has found that 13–16 year olds suggest strategies for reducing SV such as restricting time, limiting availability and doing alternative physical activities (Hattersley et al., 2009). These strategies echo those reported by New Zealand parents (Dorey et al., 2009). In focus groups with American parents and their 6–13 year olds, Jordan et al. found that children aged 6–7 responded positively to eliminating background TV and removing TV during meals. In contrast, 9–13 year olds and children who had a TV in their bedroom perceived its removal as an unfair punishment (Jordan et al., 2006).

Parental SV rules are negatively associated with SV (Barradas et al., 2008, He et al., 2010, Ramirez et al., 2011) and parent–adolescent agreement on SV rules strengthens this association (Ramirez et al., 2011). It is therefore important for parents and children to work together to reduce child SV.

There is a lack of research of British children's attitudes towards SV reduction and only one study has explored the strategies developed by children themselves (Hattersley et al., 2009). Behaviour change interventions should engage the target population, and children may be more accepting of such interventions than those imposed by authority figures. Previous research has focussed on TV viewing only (Dorey et al., 2009, Jordan et al., 2006), or only briefly considered broader SV (Hattersley et al., 2009). Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand young people's attitudes towards reducing SV and explore their SV reduction strategies.