title: Behavioral correlation with television watching and videogame playing among children in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Television viewing and videogame use (TV/VG) appear to be associated with some childhood behavioral problems. There are no studies addressing this problem in the United Arab Emirates.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-seven school children (mean age, 8.7 ± 2.1 years) were assessed. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) subscale scores and socio-demographic characteristics were compared between children who were involved with TV/VG more than 2 hours/day and those involved less than 2 hours/day (the recommended upper limit by The American Academy of Pediatrics).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven percent of children who were involved with TV/VG time of more than 2 hours/day scored significantly higher on CBCL syndrome scales of withdrawn, social problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, internalizing problems, externalizing problems and the CBCL total scores compared with their counterparts. Moreover, these children were younger in birth order and had fewer siblings. After controlling for these confounders using logistic regression, we found that TV/VG time more than 2 hours/day was positively associated with withdrawn (p = 0.008), attention problem (p = 0.037), externalizing problems (p = 0.007), and CBCL total (p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involvement with TV/VG for more than 2 hours/day is associated with more childhood behavioral problems. Counteracting negative effects of the over-involvement with TV/VG in children requires increased parental awareness.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , UAE.
authors: Said
authors: S
authors: Yousef
authors: Valsamma
authors: V
authors: Eapen
authors: Taoufik
authors: T
authors: Zoubeidi
authors: Abdelazim
authors: A
authors: Mabrouk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001722:Birth Order; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Television; UAE; behavior; children; videogames