title: Maternal characteristics and perception of temperament associated with infant TV exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the development of television (TV) behaviors across the first 18 months of life and identifies maternal and infant predictors of infant TV exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used longitudinal TV exposure, maternal sociodemographic, and infant temperament data from 217 African-American mother-infant pairs participating in the Infant Care and Risk of Obesity Study. Longitudinal logistic models and ordered regression models with clustering for repeated measures across subjects adjusted for infant gender and visit were used to assess maternal and infant predictors of TV exposure and to test whether infants with both maternal and infant risk factors had higher odds of more detrimental TV exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants as young as 3 months old were exposed to an average of 2.6 hours of TV and/or videos daily, and nearly 40% of infants were exposed to >3 hours of TV daily by 12 months of age. Maternal TV viewing and maternal obesity and infant activity, fussiness, and crying were associated with greater infant TV exposure, whereas maternal education and infant activity were associated with having the TV on during most meals. Infants perceived as being more active or fussier had higher TV exposure, particularly if their mothers also had risk factors for higher TV exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the characteristics that shape TV exposure and its biological and behavioral sequelae is critical for early intervention. Maternal perception of infant temperament dimensions is related to TV exposure, suggesting that infant temperament measures should be included in interventions aimed at limiting early TV.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St, CB 8120, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA. althomps@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Adair
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bentley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009657:North Carolina; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult