Association of television viewing during childhood with poor educational achievement.
BACKGROUND
Excessive television viewing in childhood has been associated with adverse effects on health and behavior. A common concern is that watching too much television may also have a negative impact on education. However, no long-term studies have measured childhood viewing and educational achievement.


OBJECTIVE
To explore these associations in a birth cohort followed up to adulthood.


METHODS
Prospective birth cohort study.


METHODS
Dunedin, New Zealand.


METHODS
Approximately 1000 unselected individuals born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973. Ninety-six percent of the living cohort participated at 26 years of age.


METHODS
Educational achievement by 26 years of age.


RESULTS
The mean time spent watching television during childhood and adolescence was significantly associated with leaving school without qualifications and negatively associated with attaining a university degree. Risk ratios for each hour of television viewing per weeknight, adjusted for IQ and sex, were 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.65) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.67-0.85), respectively (both, P<.001). The findings were similar in men and women and persisted after further adjustment for socioeconomic status and early childhood behavioral problems. Television viewing during childhood (ages 5-11 years) and adolescence (ages 13 and 15 years) had adverse associations with later educational achievement. However, adolescent viewing was a stronger predictor of leaving school without qualifications, whereas childhood viewing was a stronger predictor of nonattainment of a university degree.


CONCLUSIONS
Television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with poor educational achievement by 26 years of age. Excessive television viewing in childhood may have long-lasting adverse consequences for educational achievement and subsequent socioeconomic status and well-being.
Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. bob.hancox@otago.ac.nz
Robert J
RJ
Hancox
Barry J
BJ
Milne
Richie
R
Poulton
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013690:Television; D014477:Underachievement; D014796:Visual Perception