Performance on an attention test is positively related to reading but negatively related to watching TV and playing video games in children.

BACKGROUND: When exploring associations between attention skills and children's media use, most previous studies relied on parental or self-reports of attention performance. In the present study, attention was assessed using a standardized computer test. METHODS: The study was carried out as part of the LIFE Child cohort study conducted in Leipzig, Germany. A total of 1057 children from a younger (3-6.5 years) and an older age group (6.5-11 years) underwent a Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Parents reported on the children's use of electronic media (watching movies/TV shows, playing video games) and reading frequency (listening to parents' reading in the younger age group and autonomous reading in the older age group). Associations between CPT outcomes (omission and commission errors, reaction time variability) and use of different media and reading were assessed by applying linear regression analyses. Child age, sex and family income were included as covariates. RESULTS: Watching movies/TV shows was significantly associated with a higher rate of errors of commission in the younger age group and with a higher rate of errors of omission in the older age group. Playing video games was associated with a higher rate of errors of omission in the older age group only. Reading, in contrast, was associated with a lower total error rate in the older age group. CONCLUSIONS: The results strengthen the assumption that the frequent use of electronic media is associated with poorer attention skills in children, while frequent reading is associated with better attention performance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial number NCT02550236 (clinicaltrials.gov, date of registration: 2014-12-15).