Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND

The considerable increase in screen exposure causes negative effects on the motor development of boys and girls, which results in a decrease in the level of physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviors. In Chile, this problem has been widely addressed in adolescence; however, it is necessary to address it in childhood and early adolescence with a preventive approach.

OBJECTIVES

To know the relationship between the use of screens and motor development in children.

METHODS

The sample was composed of 206 boys and girls (girls = 126 and boys = 80). The ages of the students ranged from 8 to 10 years old with a mean in months of 89.6 ± 7.54. The Gross Motor Development-2 was applied to identify motor development, screen time was measured using the Questionnaire to measure physical activity and sedentary behavior.

RESULTS

Girls have a greater weekly time than females in the use of consoles ( = 0.004). Girls and boys who are in the very poor, poor, and low average levels of motor development have more time in front of TV, PC, consoles, and total time with screens. There is an inverse relationship between the level of motor development and weekly screen time (r = -0.252).

CONCLUSIONS

Screen exposure has a negative effect on the motor development of boys and girls. Although there is compliance with World Health Organization recommendations for screen exposure, the motor development of the participants is mostly very poor, poor, and low average.