Association of caregiver nativity and U.S. residency on preschoolers time playing outdoors and screen time: Findings from the 2022 National Survey of Childrens Health

BackgroundOutdoor play and limited screen time are critical for preschoolers physical health and socio-emotional development, yet little is known about how caregiver nativity and acculturation shape these behaviors. MethodsWe analyzed the 2022-2023 National Survey of Childrens Health data for 10,157 U.S. children 3-5 years old. Generalized linear models estimated associations between caregiver nativity and length of U.S. residence and childrens outdoor play and weekday screen time, adjusting for child, caregiver, and household covariates. Models tested interactions with race/ethnicity. ResultsOverall, caregiver length of U.S. residence was not associated with childrens outdoor play. However, screen time differed - children whose caregivers arrived Pre-1997 had lower odds of screen time frequency, whereas those whose caregivers arrived between 1997-2005 had higher odds compared with children of U.S.-born caregivers. Associations for weekday outdoor play and screentime varied significantly by child race/ethnicity. ConclusionsCaregiver length of U.S. residence appears more strongly related to preschoolers screen time than outdoor play, with notable differences across racial/ethnic groups. Culturally tailored strategies may be needed to reduce early childhood screen exposure and support healthy movement behaviors among immigrant families.