Abstract
Aim:To describe concurrent screen use and any relationships with lifestyle behaviours and psychosocial health.Methods:Participants wore an accelerometer for seven days to calculate physical activity sleep and sedentary time. Screen ownership and use and psychosocial variables were self-reported. Body mass index (BMI) was measured. Relationships were explored using mixed models accounting for school clustering and confounders.Results:In 816 adolescent females (age: 12.8 SD 0.8 years; 20.4% non-white European) use of ≥2 screens concurrently was: 59% after school, 65% in evenings, 36% in bed and 68% at weekends. Compared to no screens those using: ≥1 screens at weekends had lower physical activity; ≥2 screens at the weekend or one/two screen at bed had lower weekend moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; one screen in the evening had lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the after-school and evening period; ≥1 screens after school had higher BMI; and ≥3 screens at the weekend had higher weekend sedentary time. Compared to no screens those using: 1–3 after-school screens had shorter weekday sleep; ≥1 screens after-school had lower time in bed.Conclusion:Screen use is linked to lower physical activity, higher BMI and less sleep. These results can inform screen use guidelines.
Highlights
Screen use is on the rise globally.[1]
These data have been supplemented by qualitative data from focus groups with 10 to 11 year olds (n = 63) in the United Kingdom (UK) 4 and interviews with 11 to 18 year olds and their parents (n = 36) from Singapore 8 which showed how multi- tasking came naturally to young people, it was enjoyable and didn't require much effort
Young people's engagement in sedentary pursuits has been reported as high with public health concerns about detrimental effects they have on physical and mental wellbeing[25,26] as well as displacing health behaviours such as physical activity and sleep
Summary
Screen use is on the rise globally.[1] Screens are an integral yet concerning part of young people's lives.[2] There is interest in the effects of a newer phenomenon where a number of screens are used at the same time. Data from time use diaries of 8 to 18 year olds (n = 702) in the US showed an increase in young people who multi-tasked ‘most of the time’ over a five year period.[6] Data from 1,252 parents/carers of children aged 0–14 in Australia showed that 74% of 10 to 14 year olds do activities on multiple devices.[3] These data have been supplemented by qualitative data from focus groups with 10 to 11 year olds (n = 63) in the United Kingdom (UK) 4 and interviews with 11 to 18 year olds and their parents (n = 36) from Singapore 8 which showed how multi- tasking came naturally to young people, it was enjoyable and didn't require much effort
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
