Changes in family structure and children’s screen time: a longitudinal study of Australian children

Children's screen time varies by family structure, but evidence remains cross-sectional, making it difficult to determine whether differences reflect family structure or pre-existing sociodemographic inequalities. To our knowledge, no study has used matched comparison groups to test whether screen time changes following family transitions (two-parent to single-parent and vice versa). Using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a nationally representative study drawing on the Baby and Kindergarten cohorts to follow children aged 6 to 13 (N = 8706 at baseline; mean age, 6.86 years; 51% male; 85% in two-parent households), we used pre-registered multilevel mixed-effects models to examine associations between family structure, sibling number, and screen time, and propensity score-matched piecewise regression to test changes in screen time following family transitions. After full adjustment, living in a single-parent household was not significantly associated with screen time (B = 11.98 min/week; 95% CI, - 7.41 to 31.37). Transitions from two-parent to single-parent (B = 18.45 min/week; 95% CI, - 94.48 to 131.39) or from single-parent to two-parent (B = - 49.47 min/week; 95% CI, - 247.58 to 148.64) were not associated with changes in screen time. In contrast, each additional sibling was associated with lower screen time (B = - 22.71 min/week; 95% CI, - 30.18 to - 15.25). CONCLUSION: The association between family structure and screen time is largely explained by sociodemographic factors, and family transitions do not produce significant changes in screen time. Interventions to reduce screen time may be better directed at sociodemographic inequalities rather than at family structure or transitions, while considering siblings. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Most evidence on family structure and children's screen time is cross-sectional, leaving unclear whether family structure or pre-existing family differences explain observed patterns. • No study has used matched comparison groups to examine whether children's screen time trajectories shift following a family structure transition. WHAT IS NEW: • Screen time levels and trajectories were compared before and after transitions in both directions, between children who transitioned and matched children in stable households. • After adjustment, family structure was not associated with screen time, and transitions were not associated with changes in screen time; having more siblings was consistently associated with lower screen time.