Abstract
IntroductionMore knowledge is warranted about multilevel ecological variables associated with context-specific sitting time among adolescents. The present study explored cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of ecological domains of sedentary behaviour, including socio-demographic, social-cognitive, health-related and physical-environmental variables with sitting during TV viewing, computer use, electronic gaming and motorized transport among adolescents.MethodsFor this longitudinal study, a sample of Belgian adolescents completed questionnaires at school on context-specific sitting time and associated ecological variables. At baseline, complete data were gathered from 513 adolescents (15.0±1.7 years). At one-year follow-up, complete data of 340 participants were available (retention rate: 66.3%). Multilevel linear regression analyses were conducted to explore cross-sectional correlates (baseline variables) and longitudinal predictors (change scores variables) of context-specific sitting time.ResultsSocial-cognitive correlates/predictors were most frequently associated with context-specific sitting time. Longitudinal analyses revealed that increases over time in considering it pleasant to watch TV (p < .001), in perceiving TV watching as a way to relax (p < .05), in TV time of parents/care givers (p < .01) and in TV time of siblings (p < .001) were associated with more sitting during TV viewing at follow-up. Increases over time in considering it pleasant to use a computer in leisure time (p < .01) and in the computer time of siblings (p < .001) were associated with more sitting during computer use at follow-up. None of the changes in potential predictors were significantly related to changes in sitting during motorized transport or during electronic gaming.ConclusionsFuture intervention studies aiming to decrease TV viewing and computer use should acknowledge the importance of the behaviour of siblings and the pleasure adolescents experience during these screen-related behaviours. In addition, more time parents or care givers spent sitting may lead to more sitting during TV viewing of the adolescents, so that a family-based approach may be preferable for interventions. Experimental study designs are warranted to confirm the present findings.
Highlights
More knowledge is warranted about multilevel ecological variables associated with contextspecific sitting time among adolescents
Longitudinal analyses revealed that increases over time in considering it pleasant to watch TV (p < .001), in perceiving TV watching as a way to relax (p < .05), in TV time of parents/care givers (p < .01) and in TV time of siblings (p < .001) were associated with more sitting during TV viewing at follow-up
Multilevel Ecological Variables Associated with Context-Specific Sitting Time among Adolescents associated with more sitting during computer use at follow-up
Summary
A sample of Belgian adolescents completed questionnaires at school on context-specific sitting time and associated ecological variables. Complete data were gathered from 513 adolescents (15.0±1.7 years). Seven schools agreed to participate (response rate: 44%), whereupon a meeting was planned with every headmaster/principal separately. During this meeting, the headmaster selected the participating classes (consisting of classes of each type of education provided at the school (i.e. general secondary education, technical secondary education and/or vocational secondary education) and of different age groups (n = 566 adolescents eligible to participate in the selected classes). Adolescents who agreed to participate in the present study completed a questionnaire during class time at school. To be included in the study, participants had to be aged 12–18 years at baseline and
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