Long-term effects in parental screen time limiting practices in the DAGIS intervention study

Abstract Background Long-term follow-up studies of health promoting interventions are seldom conducted. This study examines 6-year post-intervention effects on parental screen time limiting practices by intervention status and degree of implementation (DOI) in a preschool-based family-involving intervention. Methods In 2017-2018, parents of children aged 3 to 6 (N = 637) participated in the 5-month randomized controlled intervention study (participation 47%). Long-term follow-up was conducted in 2023-2024, children aged 9-12 years (207 children, 31%). Parents reported screen time limiting practices at baseline and follow-up (3-items). In 2018 parents reported on implementation of intervention activities and families were divided into low and high DOI groups. Regression analyses were used to examine whether intervention status or DOI predicted parental screen time limiting practices in follow-up. Models were adjusted for baseline values and highest educational level in the family. Results Belonging to the intervention group predicted borderline significantly fewer parental screen time limiting practices compared to the control group at the follow-up (unstandardized B=-.96; p=.052). Belonging to the high DOI group predicted more screen time practices compared to the low DOI (B = 1.71; p=.044). Belonging to the low DOI group predicted fewer screen time practices compared to the control group (B=-1.80; p=.006), whereas no statistically significant differences were found when comparing control and high DOI groups. Conclusions This study found that a high degree of implementation of the DAGIS intervention among families predicted a greater use of screen time limiting practices compared to families with low implementation degree in the 6-year follow-up. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in screen time limiting practices at follow-up, indicating that additional factors may have influenced parental practices over time. Key messages • Interventions with a high degree of implementation in families with preschoolers may influence parental screen time practices six years later. • Parental screen time practices among primary school children may be influenced by other factors than a preschool-based family-involving intervention conducted six years earlier.