ECHO Researchers Demonstrate Reliability of Room-Temperature, Methanol-Preserved Placental Samples for Measuring Metabolism

Authors: Jennifer Straughen, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

This research was supported by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health.

What were the study results?

The results show that metabolic data with similar quality can be obtained from placental tissue samples preserved in methanol at room temperature than from flash-frozen samples—though a greater number of metabolites were typically detected in the methanol-fixed samples and the methanol extract.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What was the study's impact?

The results of this study show that placental tissue preservation in methanol at room temperature may be a suitable alternative method for analysis of placental metabolism. This method is more feasible and cost-effective than flash freezing, especially in community-based hospitals. As such, this study may make it easier for researchers to study the function of placentas and their potential relation to health outcomes.

Why was the study needed?

The placenta is an organ that provides nourishment to a developing fetus before it is born. Understanding metabolism within the placenta—the production and breakdown of molecules that provides energy to the placenta—might help researchers learn more about its function during pregnancy. To date, methods to collect placental samples to measure metabolism are expensive and require specialized equipment. In this study, researchers compared data from placental samples collected at room temperature to samples collected by flash-freezing, the standard method.

Who was involved?

The researchers collected placental samples from mothers within 15 minutes after delivery of the placenta at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan. All samples were anonymous.

What happened during the study?

The researchers collected pea-sized pieces of placenta tissue using the flash-freezing method and the test method (fixed in a solution of methanol at room temperature) and compared the resulting metabolism data.

What happens next?

More work is needed to describe the placental metabolic data revealed during this study and compare it to data from previous studies. Researchers will also need to repeat this study with a larger number of placentas to confirm the findings.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article titled “Comparison of methanol fixation versus cryopreservation of the placenta for metabolomics analysis” published in Scientific Reports.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published March 11, 2023

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ECHO Researchers Demonstrate Reliability of Room-Temperature, Methanol-Preserved Placental Samples for Measuring Metabolism

NIH Study Investigates Link Between Mental Health and Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on March 8, 2023August 27, 2025 by Jodi Snare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher levels of stress and depression symptoms, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program (ECHO) at the National Institutes of Health.

Pregnant women who reported receiving more emotional support and engaging in more physical activity before and during the pandemic had lower stress and fewer symptoms of depression. The results also showed that the duration of pregnancies during the pandemic were slightly shorter on average, but there was no impact on infant birth weight.

“Providing access to emotional support and mental health care during pregnancy and encouraging more physical activity may help to improve maternal health,” said Alison Hipwell, PhD, ClinPsyD, an ECHO Program investigator at the University of Pittsburgh. “More research is needed to understand how social support and physical activity may protect pregnant women during stressful times.”

This study included 501 pregnant women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 12, 2020 and May 30, 2021 and 501 pregnant women who gave birth prior to March 11, 2020. Participants were 31 years old on average and enrolled in one of 16 ECHO research sites across the United States.

Irene Tung, PhD, of California State University Dominguez Hills, and Dr. Hipwell led this collaborative ECHO research published in Psychological Medicine.

Hipwell, A. E., et al. Impact of Sedentary Behavior and Emotional Support on Prenatal Psychological Distress and Birth Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychological Medicine. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291723000314

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About ECHO: ECHO is a nationwide research program supported by the NIH. Launched in 2016, ECHO aims to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO investigators study the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development. For more information, visit echochildren.org.

About the NIH: NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information, visit www.nih.gov.

Media Contacts

For information or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager, rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.

If you are not a member of the media, but have a general inquiry, please contact NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.

Connect With Us

Check out the recent issues of our bi-monthly newsletter, the ECHO Connector, for program news and the latest research findings.

To receive the ECHO Connector through email, subscribe here.

Follow @ECHOChildHealth for the latest ECHO Program updates on Twitter.

Women Pregnant During COVID-19 Pandemic Experienced More Stress, Depression Symptoms

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Women Pregnant During COVID-19 Pandemic Experienced More Stress, Depression Symptoms

Authors: Alison E. Hipwell, Irene Tung, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

What were the study results?

This study compared ECHO participants who were pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic with participants who were pregnant before the pandemic. Participants who were pregnant during the pandemic reported more stress and symptoms of depression. Lower levels of physical activity were associated with more distress, and higher levels of emotional support were associated with less distress during pregnancy for both groups. The results also showed that pregnancies during the pandemic were slightly shorter on average but there was no impact on infant birth weight.

What was the study's impact?

This study highlights the importance of providing access to emotional support and mental health care during pregnancy and identifying ways to promote physical activity to help improve maternal health and well-being, regardless of external conditions like the pandemic.

Why was this study needed?

Previous studies on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy outcomes have been mixed. This is partly because background information about pregnant participants has been missing and partly because the effects of the pandemic are different for different populations across the country. This study involved pregnant participants from across the United States and collected information about their mental health and well-being along with data on their pregnancy outcomes. The study also focused on positive factors that can be used to improve pregnancy health and birth outcomes, such as physical activity and emotional support.

Who was involved?

This study included 501 pregnant participants who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic (between March 12, 2020 and May 30, 2021) and 501 pregnant participants who gave birth before the pandemic (prior to March 11, 2020). Participants were 31 years old on average and enrolled in one of 16 ECHO research sites across the United States.

What happened during the study?

Participants answered questions about their experiences with stress and depression, reported on their physical activity, and described the emotional support they received during pregnancy. The researchers also collected information on participants’ birth outcomes from medical records and maternal reports.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What happens next?

More research is needed to understand how social support and physical activity during pregnancy may protect pregnant women from stress or depression during difficult times. Future research may look for more details about the types of experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic that had the most influence on pregnancy health and well-being.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Impact of Sedentary Behavior and Emotional Support on Prenatal Psychological Distress and Birth Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” in Psychological Medicine.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published March 8, 2023

Access the associated article.

Download this summary

Women Pregnant During COVID-19 Pandemic Experienced More Stress, Depression Symptoms

ECHO Researchers Investigate Link Between Mental Health and Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on March 8, 2023April 2, 2025 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Alison Hipwell, PhD, ClinPsyD, of the University of Pittsburg, and Irene Tung, PhD, of California State University Dominguez Hills, found that being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher levels of stress and depression symptoms. The researchers found that participants who reported more emotional support and engaged in physical activity before and during the pandemic had less stress and fewer symptoms of depression. The results also showed that pregnancies during the pandemic were slightly shorter on average but there was no impact on infant birth weight. This study highlights the importance of providing access to emotional support and mental health care during pregnancy and identifying ways to promote physical activity to help improve maternal health and well-being, regardless of external conditions like the pandemic. This research, titled “Impact of Sedentary Behavior and Emotional Support on Prenatal Psychological Distress and Birth Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” is published in Psychological Medicine.

The study included 501 pregnant participants who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic (between March 12, 2020 and May 30, 2021) and 501 pregnant participants who gave birth before the pandemic (prior to March 11, 2020). Participants were 31 years old on average and enrolled in one of 16 ECHO research sites across the United States. Participants answered questions about their experiences with stress and depression, reported on their physical activity and described the emotional support they received during pregnancy. The researchers also collected information on participants’ birth outcomes from medical records and maternal reports.

“More research is needed to understand how social support and physical activity may protect pregnant women during difficult times,” said Alison Hipwell, PhD, ClinPsyD, of the University of Pittsburgh. “Future research may look at what types of experiences during the pandemic had the most influence on pregnancy health and well-being.”

Read the research summary.

ECHO Researchers Examine Associations Between Mothers’ Demographic Characteristics and Health During Pregnancy and Their Newborns’ Behavior

Posted on February 27, 2023December 5, 2023 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Marie Camerota, PhD of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, investigates the link between newborns’ behavior patterns with their mothers’ demographic characteristics and health during pregnancy. The study looked at over 1,000 newborns and their mothers from across the U.S., and found that male babies, babies from younger mothers, and babies whose mothers were depressed or used tobacco during pregnancy were the most likely to have poorly regulated behavior shortly after birth. Babies with poorly regulated behavior were identified as hyper-aroused (i.e., too excitable) or hypo-aroused (i.e., slow to respond). This research, titled “Prenatal and perinatal factors associated with neonatal neurobehavioral profiles in the ECHO Program,” is published in Pediatric Research.

Previous studies have looked at mothers’ and babies’ characteristics that are associated with babies’ behavior shortly after birth, but these studies were conducted with smaller groups of babies who were very similar to one another—for example, studies with babies who were all born full term. There is a need for studies with a large, variable sample of mothers and their newborns, including babies who were born preterm and full term.

This study included mothers and their babies, born at gestational ages from 22 to 42 weeks, from 5 ECHO cohorts. The babies received a behavioral exam shortly after birth to assess their responses to objects and people, their reflexes, and their movement. Either mothers reported information about their own and their babies’ demographics and health information or it was collected from their medical records. ECHO researchers looked at how these characteristics were related to babies’ patterns of behavior.

ECHO researchers identified six groups of babies with different behavior patterns. Four of these groups included normal patterns of behavior and only two groups were characterized as poorly regulated (hyper- or hypo-aroused). Babies born at all different gestational ages were included in all groups.

“If these patterns of behavior are found in other large studies, this might mean that the patterns apply to all babies,” said Dr. Camerota. “This information could be used to identify babies at risk for poorly regulated behavior and inform practices to promote positive developmental outcomes starting at the very beginning of life.”

More research is needed to determine which of the characteristics studied are stronger predictors of babies’ behavior patterns and development, and whether the impact of these factors changes among babies born at different gestational ages. Further research is also needed to learn more about how babies’ neurobehavior shortly after birth is related to their health and development later in childhood.

Read the research summary.

ECHO Study Links Younger Pregnancies, Tobacco Use During Pregnancy, and Depression During Pregnancy With Poorly Regulated Behavior in Newborns

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ECHO Study Links Younger Pregnancies, Tobacco Use During Pregnancy, and Depression During Pregnancy With Poorly Regulated Behavior in Newborns

Authors: Marie Camerota, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

This research was supported by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health, and a career development award from the National Institute of Mental Health.

What were the study results?

ECHO researchers used the neurobehavioral scores to classify babies into one of six groups based on different patterns of behavior. While each group exhibited different characteristics, 4 of these groups contained infants with normal patterns of behavior. Only two of the six groups were characterized as poorly regulated. The first of these groups was hyper-aroused, or too excitable. The other group was hypo-aroused, or slow to respond.

Babies with poorly regulated behavior were more likely to be male, have younger mothers, and have mothers who were depressed or used tobacco during pregnancy. Babies born at all different gestational ages were found in each of the six groups.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What was the study's impact?

This study describes a possible link between demographic and health characteristics of mothers and babies with patterns of behavior in newborns. Previous studies conducted in single cohorts have described similar patterns of poorly regulated behavior in infants. The current study replicated those findings using a larger and more diverse population. If these patterns of behavior continue to be found in other large studies, this might suggest that these patterns could generalize to babies outside these studies. This information could be used to identify babies at risk for poorly regulated behavior who might benefit from early interventions and prevention services to help promote positive health outcomes for children.

Why was the study needed?

Behavior patterns in newborns can be used as indicators of long-term developmental outcomes. Previous studies have looked at the link between demographic and medical characteristics of mothers and their infant’s behavior shortly after birth, but these studies were conducted with smaller groups of babies who were very similar to one another (e.g., studies with babies who were all born full term). There is a need for studies that include a larger sample representing more diverse pairs of mothers and their babies, including babies who were born all across the gestational age spectrum.

Who was involved?

This study included 1,112 mother-infant pairs from 5 ECHO cohorts across the United States. Infants were born at gestational ages from 22 to 42 weeks.

What happened during the study?

The babies received a neurobehavioral exam shortly after they were born to test their responses to objects and people, their reflexes, and their movement. Either mothers reported information about their own and their babies’ demographic characteristics and health information or it was collected from their medical records. ECHO researchers looked at how the mothers’ demographic characteristics and health during pregnancy were related to their newborns’ behavior patterns.

What happens next?

More research is needed to determine which of the characteristics studied are stronger predictors of babies’ neurobehavior patterns, and whether the impact of these factors changes in babies born at different gestational ages. Further research is also needed to learn more about how babies’ neurobehavior shortly after birth is related to their health and development later in childhood.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Prenatal and perinatal factors associated with neonatal neurobehavioral profiles in the ECHO Program," in Pediatric Research.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published February 25, 2023

Access the associated article.

Download this summary

ECHO Study Links Younger Pregnancies, Tobacco Use During Pregnancy, and Depression During Pregnancy With Poorly Regulated Behavior in Newborns

NIH Study Suggests Association Between Mothers’ Experiences of Maltreatment in Their Own Childhood to Their Children’s Health Outcomes

Posted on February 24, 2023August 27, 2025 by Jodi Snare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Children of mothers who experienced childhood abuse or neglect may have a higher risk for developing asthma, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and certain mental health issues, according to a study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program (ECHO) at the National Institutes of Health.

This research suggests that a mother’s history of being abused or neglected as a child may increase their child’s risk for developing one or more of these health outcomes at once. Daughters of these mothers may also be more likely to develop obesity, the study found, as compared to sons.

“Asking parents about their childhood experiences during prenatal and pediatric care, identifying parents with a history of childhood abuse or neglect, and offering counseling and support to those parents could help improve health outcomes for their children,” said Claudia Buss, PhD, an ECHO Program investigator at the University of California, Irvine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

The researchers surveyed 4,337 mothers from 21 ECHO cohorts across the U.S. on their childhood experiences. About 44 percent of these mothers reported childhood abuse or neglect. The researchers also collected data on the rates of diagnosis for a number of physical and mental conditions among the children of mothers participating in the study.

Dr. Buss and Nora K. Moog, PhD of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin led this collaborative research published in The Lancet Public Health.

Buss, C. et al. Intergenerational transmission of the consequences of maternal exposure to childhood maltreatment – a United States nationwide observational study of multiple cohorts in the ECHO program. The Lancet Public Health. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00025-7

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About ECHO: ECHO is a nationwide research program supported by the NIH. Launched in 2016, ECHO aims to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO investigators study the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development. For more information, visit echochildren.org.

About the NIH: NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information, visit www.nih.gov.

Media Contacts

For information or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager, rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.

If you are not a member of the media, but have a general inquiry, please contact NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.

Connect With Us

Check out the recent issues of our bi-monthly newsletter, the ECHO Connector, for program news and the latest research findings.

To receive the ECHO Connector through email, subscribe here.

Follow @ECHOChildHealth for the latest ECHO Program updates on Twitter.

New ECHO Research Investigates the Consequences of Maternal Exposure to Childhood Maltreatment on Their Children’s Health Outcomes

Posted on February 23, 2023April 2, 2025 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Claudia Buss, PhD of the University of California, Irvine and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Nora K. Moog, PhD of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, suggests that maternal history of childhood maltreatment may increase the risk for multiple child health outcomes, including asthma, depressive symptoms, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The results of this study also indicate that children of mothers who experienced neglect or abuse as children were more likely to develop several of these health outcomes simultaneously. This research, titled “Intergenerational transmission of the consequences of maternal exposure to childhood maltreatment – a United States nationwide observational study of multiple cohorts in the ECHO program,” is published in The Lancet Public Health.

Childhood maltreatment increases the risk for adverse health outcomes, and this risk can be transmitted from one generation to the next. Previous research has investigated single health outcomes in children of mothers exposed to childhood maltreatment. However, health problems are often interconnected and affected by the same factors, so this study investigated the association between maternal exposure to childhood abuse or neglect and children’s risk of experiencing more than one of six evaluated health outcomes simultaneously: ASD, ADHD, asthma, allergies, obesity, and internalizing behaviors (e.g., social withdrawal, trouble sleeping, symptoms of anxiety or depression).

The researchers evaluated data from 4,337 mothers and their children from 21 ECHO cohorts in the United States. Mothers self-reported on their childhood experiences, and researchers used this information to categorize them based on whether or not they were exposed to childhood neglect or abuse. About 44% of participating mothers reported experiencing some level of childhood maltreatment. The researchers then compared the rates of diagnosis for a number of physical and mental conditions between the children in the two groups.

Children of mothers exposed to childhood maltreatment had higher rates of asthma, ADHD, ASD, and internalizing problems compared with children of mothers without CM. Additionally, girls whose mothers experienced childhood neglect or abuse were more likely to develop obesity. Children of mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment were at higher risk of developing more than one of the evaluated health outcomes. Exposure to several different forms of maternal childhood maltreatment was associated with highest risk increases for most offspring health outcomes suggesting the more severe the maternal childhood experiences were, the higher the risk for adverse health outcomes in her child.

“Not all children of mothers with experiences of childhood maltreatment will develop health problems, but those who do are at risk of developing more than one condition,” said Dr. Buss. “Asking parents about their childhood experiences during prenatal and pediatric care, identifying parents with a history of childhood abuse or neglect, and offering counseling and support to those parents could help improve health outcomes for their children.”

Follow-up studies will further investigate the different pathways between maternal childhood maltreatment and child health outcomes. Future studies may also track the effects of other forms of negative childhood experiences in combination with childhood maltreatment on child health outcomes.

Read the research summary.

For more background, view this ECHO Discovery webinar about how a mother’s own adverse childhood experiences may affect her child’s health and well-being.

NIH Study Finds Screen Time Increases in Children During the Pandemic Persisted After Restrictions Lifted

Posted on February 15, 2023August 27, 2025 by Jodi Snare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Increases in screen time among children persisted more than one year into the pandemic, after many COVID restrictions had been lifted, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program (ECHO) at the National Institutes of Health.

Excessive screen time may be associated with obesity-promoting health behaviors and adverse mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to widespread school closures, shelter-in-place laws, closures of recreational facilities and cancellation of youth sports, increases in the number of parents working from home, and social distancing recommendations, all of which may have impacted screen time among children.

“Our findings can help inform clinical guidelines that could aid parents and their children in re-establishing healthy media use habits,” said Monique Hedderson, PhD, of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. “Pediatricians can help parents reset family media use priorities and limits that may have relaxed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic using tools like the American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Plan.”

The study included 228 children between ages 4 to 12 and their parents from three ECHO cohorts across the United States. ECHO researchers surveyed parents about their children’s total, educational (not including remote school), and recreational screen time and examined trends in screen use before and at two points during the pandemic.

Dr. Hedderson and Assiamira Ferrara, MD, PhD, ECHO Program investigators at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, led this collaborative research published in JAMA Network Open.

Hedderson, M. et al. “Trends in screen time use among children during the COVID pandemic, July 2019 through August 2021.” JAMA Network Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.56157

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About ECHO: ECHO is a nationwide research program supported by the NIH. Launched in 2016, ECHO aims to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO investigators study the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development. For more information, visit echochildren.org.

About the NIH: NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information, visit www.nih.gov.

Media Contacts

For information or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager, rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.

If you are not a member of the media, but have a general inquiry, please contact NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.

Connect With Us

Check out the recent issues of our bi-monthly newsletter, the ECHO Connector, for program news and the latest research findings.

To receive the ECHO Connector through email, subscribe here.

Follow @ECHOChildHealth for the latest ECHO Program updates on Twitter.

Screen Time for Children Rose During COVID-19 Pandemic, Remained High After Restrictions Lifted

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Screen Time for Children Rose During COVID-19 Pandemic, Remained High After Restrictions Lifted

Authors: Monique Hedderson, Assiamira Ferrara, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

What were the study results?

Total screen time among children ages 4 to 12 increased during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdowns and school closures were widespread. Screen time remained higher in the later pandemic, even after several restrictions had been lifted. The study found that children used screens an average of 1.75 hours/day more during the early pandemic (December 2020 – April 2021) compared to before the pandemic (July 2019 – March 2020). During the later pandemic (May 2021 – August 2021), screen time remained on average 1.11 hours/day higher than the pre-pandemic average. Both recreational and educational screen time increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What was the study's impact?

The study shows that increases in screen time among children persisted more than one year into the pandemic, after many COVID restrictions had been lifted. These findings can help inform clinical guidelines that could aid parents and their children in re-establishing healthy media use habits. Pediatricians can help parents reset family media use priorities and limits that may have changed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic using tools like the American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Plan.

Why was this study needed?

Excessive screen time among children may be associated with obesity-promoting health behaviors and adverse mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to widespread school closures, shelter-in-place laws, closures of recreational facilities and cancellation of youth sports, increases in number of parents working from home, and social distancing recommendations, all of which may have impacted screen time among children. Prior studies have reported screen time levels during the pandemic but were unable to document changes in screen time because most lacked pre-pandemic assessments. This study is among a handful of ECHO studies to include pre-pandemic assessments of screen use in order to document changes during the pandemic.

Who was involved?

The study included 228 parent-child pairs from three ECHO cohorts across the United States (Colorado, California, and South Dakota). Parents reported their children’s screen time. The geographically, racially, and ethnically diverse participants ranged in age from 4 to 12 at the start of the study.

What happened during the study?

ECHO researchers surveyed parents about their children’s media use before, during the early, and later periods of the pandemic. The study assessed total, educational (not including remote school), and recreational screen time and examined trends in screen use before and at two points during the pandemic.

What happens next?

Additional studies are needed to determine whether the increases in screen time among children during the pandemic impacted longer term obesity and mental health outcomes in children. Future studies can also clarify whether specific types of screen time adversely impacted children’s health during the pandemic.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Trends in screen time use among children during the COVID pandemic, July 2019 through August 2021” in JAMA Network Open.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published February 15, 2023

Access the associated article.

Download this summary

Screen Time for Children Rose During COVID-19 Pandemic, Remained High After Restrictions Lifted