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Couch kids: Correlates of television viewing among youth

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the published empirical correlates of television/video viewing among youth (2 to 18 years). A descriptive semi-quantitative review was conducted based on 68 primary studies. Variables consistently associated with TV/video viewing were ethnicity (non-white +), parent income (-), parent education (-), body weight (+), between meal snacking (+), number of parents in the house (-), parents TV viewing habits (+), weekend (+) and having a TV in the bedroom (+). Variables consistently unrelated to TV/video viewing were sex, other indicators of socio-economic status, body fatness, cholesterol levels, aerobic fitness, strength, other indicators of fitness, self-perceptions, emotional support, physical activity, other diet variables, and being an only child. Few modifiable correlates have been identified. Further research should aim to identify modifiable correlates of TV/video viewing if interventions are to be successfully tailored to reduce this aspect of inactivity among youth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, LE11 3TU, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK

    Trish Gorely

  2. Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA

    Simon J. Marshall

  3. British Heart Foundation Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

    Stuart J. H. Biddle

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Gorely, T., Marshall, S.J. & Biddle, S.J.H. Couch kids: Correlates of television viewing among youth. Int. J. Behav. Med. 11, 152–163 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1103_4

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