Straker L M, Pollock C M, Zubrick S R, Kurinczuk J J
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.
Child Care Health Dev. 2006 May;32(3):343-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00599.x.
Increasing use of computers by children has raised concerns over the potential impact on their cognitive, social, educational, visual and physical development. Despite this concern, there are no large-scale studies relating the use of computers to specific health indicators in children as they reach school age.
A cross-sectional analysis of 1600 5-year-old Western Australian children participating in a longitudinal cohort study was conducted to ascertain their computer use, other activities (watching television and videos, playing electronic games, reading and looking at books, drawing on paper and moderate to vigorous physical activity), and specific health indicators.
More than half (56%) of the children used computers each week. Computer use was significantly related to TV viewing (OR 1.97 weekday) and electronic game use (console games OR 2.48 weekday, 1.81 weekend; hand-held games OR 1.88 weekend) and negatively associated with vigorous physical activity on weekends (OR 0.72). Computer use was also significantly related to socio-economic indicators such as the mother being older (40+ years, OR 1.70 weekend, 1.73 weekday), tertiary educated (OR 1.63 weekend) and studying (OR 1.52 weekend, 1.41 weekday). Almost 1% children were reported to have complained of tired or sore muscles, and 2.2% had complained of tired or sore eyes, after watching television or using a computer.
A substantial proportion of 5-year-old Western Australian children are using computers. Computer use was related to other sedentary activities and less vigorous activity. While musculoskeletal and vision problems are not widespread, their presence and the sedentary nature of computer use is of public health concern.
儿童使用电脑的频率不断增加，引发了人们对其对认知、社交、教育、视觉和身体发育可能产生的影响的担忧。尽管存在这种担忧，但尚无大规模研究将儿童在入学年龄时使用电脑的情况与特定健康指标联系起来。
对1600名参与纵向队列研究的西澳大利亚州5岁儿童进行横断面分析，以确定他们的电脑使用情况、其他活动（看电视和视频、玩电子游戏、读书和看书、在纸上画画以及中度至剧烈的体育活动）以及特定健康指标。
超过一半（56%）的儿童每周使用电脑。电脑使用与看电视（工作日OR 1.97）和电子游戏使用（游戏机游戏工作日OR 2.48，周末OR 1.81；手持游戏周末OR 1.88）显著相关，与周末的剧烈体育活动呈负相关（OR 0.72）。电脑使用还与社会经济指标显著相关，例如母亲年龄较大（40岁及以上，周末OR 1.70，工作日OR 1.73）、接受过高等教育（周末OR 1.63）以及正在学习（周末OR 1.52，工作日OR 1.41）。据报告，近1%的儿童在看电视或使用电脑后抱怨肌肉疲劳或酸痛，2.2%的儿童抱怨眼睛疲劳或酸痛。
相当比例的西澳大利亚州5岁儿童在使用电脑。电脑使用与其他久坐不动的活动以及较少的剧烈活动有关。虽然肌肉骨骼和视力问题并不普遍，但它们的存在以及电脑使用的久坐性质值得公众关注。
