Couch kids: Correlates of television viewing among youth

Citation

Gorely T, Marshall SJ & Biddle SJH (2004) Couch kids: Correlates of television viewing among youth. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 11 (3), pp. 152-163. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1103_4

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.

Keywords
television viewing; correlates; determinants; youth

Journal
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine: Volume 11, Issue 3