Recreational Screen Time Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study among a Diverse Population-Based Sample of Emerging Adults.

Brooke E Wagner,Daheia J Barr-Anderson,Dianne Neumark-Sztainer,Samantha L Hahn,Nicole Larson,Amanda L Folk

doi:10.3390/ijerph18094613

Abstract

Understanding how screen time behaviors changed during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to inform the design of health promotion interventions. The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe changes in recreational screen time from 2018 to 2020 among a diverse sample of emerging adults. Participants (n = 716) reported their average weekly recreational screen time in 2018 and again during the pandemic in 2020. Additionally, participants qualitatively reported how events related to COVID-19 had influenced their screen time. Weekly recreational screen time increased from 25.9 ± 11.9 h in 2018 to 28.5 ± 11.6 h during COVID-19 (p < 0.001). The form of screen time most commonly reported to increase was TV shows and streaming services (n = 233). Commonly reported reasons for changes in screen time were boredom (n = 112) and a desire to connect with others (n = 52). Some participants reported trying to reduce screen time because of its negative impact on their mental health (n = 32). Findings suggest that screen time and mental health may be intertwined during the pandemic as it may lead to poorer mental health for some, while promoting connectedness for others. Health professionals and public health messaging could promote specific forms for screen time to encourage social connection during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Highlights

Sedentary behavior is suggested to have negative impacts on overall health that are independent of physical activity level, including increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, type 2 diabetes, and poorer dietary intake [1]
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on screen time may be long lasting and the extended time required for an economic rebound may exacerbate the challenges of reducing excess time spent watching TV, gaming, and using social media
The association between negative physical and mental health and excess screen time are of ongoing public health concern

Summary

Introduction

Sedentary behavior is suggested to have negative impacts on overall health that are independent of physical activity level, including increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, type 2 diabetes, and poorer dietary intake [1]. There is growing research that supports that passive sedentary behavior and screen use, such as leisure time activities including television (TV) watching, is more harmful to both physical and mental health than mentally active sedentary behavior and screen use such as occupational contexts, reading, or socializing with others [5,6,7,8]. Both the quantity and type of sedentary time are important in understanding health implications

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion