Abstract
BackgroundIn recent years in Japan, electronic games, home computers, and the internet have assumed an important place in people’s lives, even for elementary school children. Subjective health complaints have also become a problem among children. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between media use and health status in elementary school children in Japan.MethodsA cross-sectional school-based population survey was conducted in 2009 with a sample of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade children (age range: 10–12 years old) in elementary schools in Japan (n = 3,464). Self-reported health, lifestyle habits, and time spent using media were assessed.ResultsThe use of games, television, and personal computers was significantly associated with lifestyle (p < 0.05) and subjective health (p < 0.05). In addition, the use of games, the use of television, and the use of personal computers were mutually associated. The greater the number of media used for more than 1 hour was, the higher the odds ratio of the association of media use with unhealthy lifestyle and subjective health complaints was. The plural use of these media had stronger associations with unhealthy lifestyle and subjective health complaints.ConclusionsGame, television, and personal-computer use were mutually associated, and the plural use of these media had stronger associations with unhealthy lifestyle and subjective health complaints. Excessive use of media might be a risk for unhealthy lifestyle and subjective health complaints.
Highlights
In recent years in Japan, electronic games, home computers, and the internet have assumed an important place in people’s lives, even for elementary school children
99.6 % and 76.0 %, respectively, in Japan in 2011 [3]. These media provide us with useful information and fulfilment, but the excessive use of them has been identified as a health issue, even for elementary school children
Children who spent more than hr using games had significantly later bedtimes than those who spent less than 1 hr using games (p < 0.001)
Summary
In recent years in Japan, electronic games, home computers, and the internet have assumed an important place in people’s lives, even for elementary school children. We investigated the relationship between media use and health status in elementary school children in Japan. Innovation in electronic media technologies has progressed dramatically, and electronic games, home computers, and the internet have assumed an important place in the lives of both adults and children, even elementary school children. 99.6 % and 76.0 %, respectively, in Japan in 2011 [3] These media provide us with useful information and fulfilment, but the excessive use of them has been identified as a health issue, even for elementary school children
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