Abstract
This study investigated the associations between two common recreational screen activities and the psychological wellbeing of adolescents, and whether this association was mediated by sleep duration or physical activity frequency. This study used nationally representative cross-sectional survey data from 2946 adolescents (mean age 16.9 [0.38] years; 49% female) in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Adolescents provided information on daily time spent for each of the following: playing electronic games and watching television, time of sleep onset and wakeup, and number of days/week doing ≥60 min/day of physical activity. Psychological wellbeing was assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the associations, and a contemporary multiple mediation analysis was used to examine the mediation effects. One fifth (20%) of adolescents were categorized as having poor wellbeing (SDQ total ≥17) with a significant sex difference (males: 16%; females: 24%; p < 0.001). Playing electronic games was inversely associated with psychological wellbeing for both male and female adolescents (p < 0.001). Watching television was inversely associated with psychological wellbeing for female adolescents (p < 0.001). Sleep duration and physical activity frequency were found to partially mediate the relationships between playing electronic games and the psychological wellbeing of male and female adolescents. Physical activity frequency partially mediated the association between television watching and wellbeing among female adolescents. Longitudinal studies are required to determine the causal pathway between screen-based activities and the wellbeing of adolescents, and to inform intervention strategies.
Highlights
As many as 20% of children and adolescents have one or more mental health conditions [1]
Time spent on electronic games was positively associated with poor wellbeing in males and females, and this was partially mediated by both sleep duration and physical activity frequency
Results from the current study demonstrate that both types of recreational screen activities were inversely associated with psychological wellbeing among adolescents, which is consistent with previous studies on the adverse psychological impacts of screen time [6], video games [8], and watching television [7]
Summary
As many as 20% of children and adolescents have one or more mental health conditions [1]. Another study among children and young people in England demonstrated that 12.8% had at least one mental health condition in 2017 [3]. These conditions can have adverse implications for developmental processes, social interactions, educational attainment, and living productively [1] and can continue and become more severe later in life. This high prevalence of poor mental health and the implications for future wellbeing highlights the need for management strategies. There is, a need to identify how specific lifestyle behaviors are linked with psychological wellbeing
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