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# Study:  Too Much TV Creates Attention Problems
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/study_too_much_tv_creates_attention_problems_070520100931/
- Published: 2010-07-05T10:25:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T12:53:29.000Z
- Description: Iowa State researcher Edward Swing followed 1,300 third through fifth graders and 210 college students; those who watched the most television were 1.6 to 2.2 times more likely to show attention problems 13 months later. Pediatrics published the findings.
- Author: Rachel Stockton
- Tags: Lifestyle, Health News, #vivvo-import

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children spend no more than two hours a day watching television; a new study conducted by a graduate student from Iowa State University is lending credibility to this directive.

Specifically, the research shows that watching television more than 2 hours a day doubles the risk of attention span problems. 

Attention span is the period of time during which a person can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted. 

Study Details

Researcher Edward Swing studied two different age groups; the first one consisted of 1,300 third, fourth and fifth graders, while the second one was made up of 210 college students. On average, those children who watched more television than the AAP recommends spent 4.26 hours a day in front of the television, while college students averaged 4.82 hours. 

The younger children were observed by teachers, who then reported any attention problems they observed; the college students self reported their results in a one-time evaluation.

Study Results

After 13 months, the students who spent the most time watching television were 1.6-2.2 times more likely to exhibit attention problems during the school day. Surprisingly, Swing said the younger children were a little less likely to have attention problems than the college students.

The findings were published in the July 2010 issue of Pediatrics.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is more often seen now than ever. Dr. Dimitri Christakis of the University of Washington in Seattle was cited as saying that environmental factors may play a role.

Since television and video gaming are both here to stay, the American Academy of Pediatrics gives the following guidelines to help parents manage how much and what type of television their children watch:

\*Plan what to watch. This helps limit "mindless" viewing that can occur when the television is simply left on for several hours.

\*Set limits regarding the quality of what your kids watch as well as how much time they spend in front of the television.

\*Set a good example by limiting your own television viewing.

For more information on children and television viewing, consult the Academy's website at www.aap.org.