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Behavioral Profiles Of Screen Time And Motor Development In 24-month-old Children: 1851
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Behavioral Profiles Of Screen Time And Motor Development In 24-month-old Children: 1851

Alex H. Crisp, Melissa A. Jones, Sharon Ross, Bethany Barone Gibbs and Kara M. Whitaker
Medicine and science in sports and exercise, Vol.58(10S), 1851
10/2026
DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0001264440.93899.94

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Despite recommendations for minimal screen exposure in toddlers, little is known about its relation to motor development. This study identified and characterized behavioral profiles combining screen use and motor skills in 24-month-old children. METHODS: Data from 207 children in the multisite Pregnancy 24/7 Offspring Study (Iowa, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) were analyzed. Mothers completed 24-month Ages and Stages Questionnaire gross motor items (walking downstairs, walking up/down two steps, running without falling, jumping, kicking a ball, kicking independently) on a 3-point scale (Yes/Sometimes/Not yet). Screen time included four variables TV and other media use on weekdays/weekends (None, <1 hour, or >1 hour), TV in the bedroom (yes/no), and screen use at bedtime (yes/no). Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) identified behavioral dimensions, followed by Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) clustering. Groups were compared using permutation tests (10,000 iterations). RESULTS: MCA identified two dimensions reflecting screen use (13.3%) and motor proficiency (10.0%). PAM revealed two patterns Better Motor & Low Screen (70%, n=145) and Lower Motor & High Screen (30%, n=62). No significant differences were found in age, sex, BMI-for-age z-score, or maternal socioeconomic factors (Table). Differences were greater in complex motor skills (running 97.2% vs. 79.0%) than in basic ones (walking 97.2% vs. 95.2%). Screen time differed across domains, with higher proportions exceeding one hour for TV on weekdays (17.2% vs. 80.6%) and other media on weekends (0% vs. 37.1%). The MCA biplot showed that better motor skills clustered with limited screen exposure, indicating an inverse association. CONCLUSION: Minimal screen exposure was associated with better gross motor development, particularly complex skills supporting active behavior. No screen time may promote healthier early development in children.

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