Abstract
This study attempted to address the limited knowledge regarding the impact of screen time (ST) on lifestyle behaviors in Indian adolescents during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were to 1) evaluate frequency and duration of using screens, and screen addiction behaviors in 10-15 years old adolescents in Mumbai during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2) examine the association of ST with lifestyle behaviors- eating habits, snacking patterns, physical activity (PA) levels, sleep quality and depression symptoms. An online survey was completed between January and March 2021. Eating habits, snacking patterns, time spent in different screen-based activities, and screen addiction behaviors were reported. The PA levels, sleep quality, and depression symptoms were evaluated using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children/Adolescents (PAQ C/A), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of ST on lifestyle behaviors. Adolescents (n = 1298, Mage 13.2(1.1), 53.3% boys) reported the mean weekday and weekend ST as 442.3 (201.5) minutes/d and 379.9 (178.2) minutes/d respectively. Overall, 33.4% spent > 6hours/d for studying or doing homework, 65.4% used social networking sites for at least 2-3 hours/d, and 70.7% agreed that ST had taken up the majority of their leisure time. Only 12% engaged in moderate to vigorous PA (PAQ C/A scores <2). More than half (52.5%) reported PSQI >5 indicating poor sleep quality and 8.6% scored ≥ 3 on PHQ-2 to suggest a risk of depression. A higher ST was associated with lower PA and increased sleep problems and a greater screen addiction was inversely associated with the eating habit, PA, and sleep-related variables. The study draws attention to a high prevalence of excess ST and its impact on eating habits, PA levels, and sleep quality in Indian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted health promotion interventions that encourage judicious use of screens for education and entertainment and emphasize the adverse health effects of excess ST are required.
Highlights
With the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic and a need to mitigate the spread and transmission of the coronavirus, many countries, including India, had to issue stay-at-home advisories and impose lockdown restrictions and social distancing protocols [1,2]
The increase in screen time (ST) during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is likely to pose a greater risk of adverse health outcomes in adolescents, many of whom may have already been engaging in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors
A higher ST was associated with lower physical activity (PA) and increased sleep problems and a greater screen addiction was inversely related to healthy eating habits, PA, and sleep variables, though not with depression symptoms
Summary
With the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic and a need to mitigate the spread and transmission of the coronavirus, many countries, including India, had to issue stay-at-home advisories and impose lockdown restrictions and social distancing protocols [1,2]. The extended closures of schools prompted the educational institutions to adopt online teachinglearning models for students and the movement bans resulted in greater use of screens for entertainment and social interactions. The increase in ST during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is likely to pose a greater risk of adverse health outcomes in adolescents, many of whom may have already been engaging in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors This brings forth a need to investigate the prevalence of excess ST during the pandemic and evaluate its potential influences on lifestyle behaviors, such as eating habits, physical activity (PA) levels, and sleep patterns in adolescents
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