Relationships Among Screen Time, Nutrient Intake, and Eating Behaviors in Turkish Preschool and School-Aged Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the relationship between screen time and dietary intake in preschool and school-aged children. This cross-sectional study included 580 children (4-10 years). Nutrient intakes were compared with European Food Safety Authority Dietary Reference Values. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Associations between screen time, dietary patterns, and nutrient intakes were analyzed, adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, body mass index, mother’s age, mother’s education, and income level) using binary logistic regression. The proportion of children ≥2 hours of daily screen time was higher in 7-10 years old (60%) than in 4-6 years old (37%). Higher screen time was associated with lower total energy intake and protein consumption in younger children. In older children, excessive screen time was linked to higher carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fat intake. The deviation from the guideline was greater in 4-6 years with a longer screen time. Sex and the mother’s education level were significantly associated with higher screen time, while BMI, age, mother’s age, and monthly income were not. Longer screen time was associated with lower "Enjoyment of Food" and "Food Fussiness" and higher "Satiety Responsiveness" in younger children, whereas in older children, it was linked to higher "Desire to Drink" and increased snack consumption. In conclusion, screen time has age-specific effects on children’s eating behaviors and nutrient intake, with younger children being more vulnerable to dietary imbalances and deficiencies. There is a need for more research on the impact of modern screen devices across different age groups.

Keywords: Dietary intake, pediatric nutrition, screen exposure