How preschool screen and device use affects thinking skills and children's weight
Longitudinal associations of preschoolers' technology and digital medial (TDM) use and executive functioning: a mechanism linking TDM with young children's weight status
['FUNDING_P01'] · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11174311
This project looks at whether young children's use of screens and digital devices is linked with their thinking skills (executive function) and their body weight.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11174311 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
As a parent, this project would track my preschooler's screen and device use using new objective, passive tools instead of only asking questions. Researchers will measure children's executive functioning (like attention, working memory, and self-control) and record height and weight over time to see how these change together. The team will also test whether parenting style, parent support during activities, and the type of digital content change these links. Experts from child development, engineering, and pediatrics work together to pinpoint if thinking skills help explain connections between device use and weight.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are preschool-aged children (about 1–5 years old) and their caregivers who can attend study visits and allow objective tracking of the child's device use and development over time.
Not a fit: Older children or adults, and children whose caregivers cannot participate or who cannot tolerate the measurement procedures (for example due to severe developmental or medical limitations), are unlikely to benefit from enrolling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help parents and clinicians know whether changing screen habits or parenting approaches might improve thinking skills and reduce unhealthy weight gain in preschoolers.
How similar studies have performed: Some earlier studies have linked higher screen time with weaker cognitive skills and higher BMI, but this project is more novel because it uses objective passive measures and specifically tests executive function as a pathway to weight outcomes.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WOOD, ALEXIS CAROLINE — BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: WOOD, ALEXIS CAROLINE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.