Increased risk of exceeding entertainment-media guidelines in preschool children from low socioeconomic background: the Generation R Study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and explain the association between maternal educational level and television viewing time among preschool children.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 2786 preschoolers enrolled in a birth cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between 2002 and 2006. Odds ratios of watching television ≥2 hours/day and ≥1 hour/day were calculated for children of mothers with low, mid-low, and mid-high educational level (reference group: high educational level), before and after adjustment for mediators.


RESULTS
Children of low, mid-low, and mid-high educated mothers were more likely to watch television ≥2 hours/day compared to children of high educated mothers, with children of low educated mother showing the highest risk (OR: 11.32; 95% CI: 6.58, 19.46). Adjustment for mediators (i.e. maternal body mass index, parental television viewing, presence of a television set in the child's bedroom, and financial difficulties) led to a nearly 50% reduction in odds ratio for the lowest educational group (OR: 6.61; 95% CI: 3.69, 11.84). A similar educational gradient was found for watching television ≥1 hour/day, although effect estimates were smaller.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal education is inversely associated with preschoolers' television viewing time. This association was partly explained by known correlates of children's television viewing.
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.wijtzes@erasmusmc.nl.
Anne I
AI
Wijtzes
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Wilma
W
Jansen
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Carlijn B M
CBM
Kamphuis
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Vincent W V
VWV
Jaddoe
Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Henriëtte A
HA
Moll
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Henning
H
Tiemeier
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Frank C
FC
Verhulst
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Albert
A
Hofman
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Johan P
JP
Mackenbach
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hein
H
Raat
D015988:Cohort Effect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D009040:Motion Pictures; D009426:Netherlands; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class