How preschoolers' screen time affects sleep, thinking skills, and weight
Leveraging passive objective assessment methods of preschooler's media use to examine multiple paths of influence on sleep, executive function and weight status
['FUNDING_P01'] · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11174287
This project uses new hands-off tools to measure preschoolers' screen use to understand effects on their sleep, thinking skills, and 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-11174287 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a parent's perspective, this program uses new passive technologies to record young children's viewing of TVs and video-game consoles (FLASH-TV) and to track mobile device use without relying only on parent recall. Researchers will combine these objective measures with sleep reports, brief tests of executive function, and weight measurements to see how screen use across platforms relates to health and development. A second part looks at whether how parents guide or scaffold media use protects children from harms. The goal is to get a clearer, more accurate picture than past studies that relied mainly on parent estimates.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are preschool-aged children (about 1–5 years) whose families are willing to allow passive recording of TV and device use and to take part in sleep, behavior, and weight measurements.
Not a fit: Children outside the preschool age range or families unwilling to permit passive monitoring of device and TV use would not be able to take part and are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give clearer guidance and better tools to help parents and clinicians reduce harmful screen exposures and support healthier sleep, thinking skills, and weight in preschoolers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked high preschool screen time to poorer sleep, attention, and higher weight, but this program uses newer passive measurement tools like FLASH-TV that are less tested in large child samples.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'CONNOR, TERESIA MARGARETA — BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: O'CONNOR, TERESIA MARGARETA
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.