Association of screen use trajectories from early childhood with cognitive development in late childhood: The EDEN mother-child cohort

Screen use has been related to children's cognitive development, but more evidence from longitudinal studies is needed. We investigated the association of screen use trajectories from age 2 to 11-12 years and cognitive development at 11-12 years in 459 children from the EDEN cohort. Parents reported how frequently TV was on during family meals at age 2, 3, 5 and 8 years and children's screen time at the same ages up to 11-12 years. Intellectual abilities were derived from subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test at 11-12 years. Trajectories of screen time and TV on during family meals were iden-tified and examined in relation with intellectual abilities using multivariable linear regression models. Four screen time trajectories were identified: low (11%), average (50%), high (32%), and very high (6%) user. The three trajectories of TV on during family meals were never (41%), sometimes (34%), and often/always (25%). Screen time trajectories were not associated with intellectual abilities at 11-12 years. TV on sometimes (vs never), but not often/always, during family meals was associated with reduced non-verbal and general intel-lectual abilities. Future studies need to consider the context of screen use, not just the time.