Abstract
Objective: To examine associations between screen-time (television, video/DVD, gaming, computer use) and attachment to parents and peers in two cohorts of adolescents, 16 years apart.
Design: Cross-sectional data regarding screen-time and attachment to parents and peers were collected for two cohorts of adolescents, one in 1987/88 (Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development cohort, DMHDS) and one in 2004 (Youth Lifestyle Study cohort, YLS).
Setting: Members of the DMHDS cohort were interviewed as part of a full day of assessment and members of the YLS cohort completed a self-report questionnaire in a supervised classroom setting.
Participants: The DMHDS cohort (n = 976 at age 15) was aged 15 years in 1987/88. The YLS cohort (n = 3043) was aged 14 and 15 years in 2004. Main outcome measures: Low attachment to parents and peers as measured by the Inventory of Parent and Peer attachment.
Results: More time spent television viewing and less time reading and doing homework were associated with low parent attachment for both cohorts. Among the YLS cohort, more time playing on a computer was also associated with low parent attachment. Among the DMHDS cohort, greater television viewing was associated with low peer attachment.
Conclusion: Screen-time was associated with poor attachment to parents and peers in two cohorts of adolescents, 16 years apart. Given the importance of parental and peer attachment to adolescent health and development, concern about high levels of screen-time among adolescents is warranted.