Lifestyle Of Adolescents Research Articles

Implications Of Counseling Guidance On Teenager’s Hanging Out Lifestyles

The aim of this mini research is to find out interaction patterns and interactional dynamics, adolescent lifestyles and the implications of guidance services for high school students. This research method uses symbolic interactionism, sampling informants using purposive sampling and collaborating with snowball. The research results showed that the group of high school teenagers that the researchers observed had a habit of hanging out in this group not as a place to show off on social media, indeed some uploaded it to social media but not to show their orders or the appearance of the clothes they were wearing. Groups also make their activities meaningful by exchanging ideas and the latest information. The final result is that this group has great potential in supporting guidance and counseling services, group guidance which is very similar to problem solving techniques and group counseling.

Peer support and healthy lifestyle among adolescents in urban areas in Indonesia

Unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents in urban areas are still a problem. Peers are role models in adolescent's lifestyle. However, little is known about the peer support in eating behavior, sedentary lifestyle and physical activities, which thus needs to be explored. This study aims to analyze the relationship between peer support and adolescent lifestyle. This study used a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 105 adolescents using proportional stratified random sampling. Data were collected by questionnaire. The Spearman rho test was performed to identify the relationship between peer support within a sedentary lifestyle and eating behavior, while to identify the relationship between peer support and physical activity using pearson, the level of significance was determined as p≤0.05. The results showed that there was a relationship between peer support and eating behavior (p=0.012; r=0.243) as well as adolescents' physical activity (p=0.001; r=0.324). There is no relationship between peer support and a sedentary lifestyle both on weekdays (p=0.181; r=0.131) and on weekends (p=0.735; r=0.033). The results show that peers have an important role in improving healthy lifestyle patterns in adolescents, especially in eating behavior and physical activity, so peer involvement interventions to improve healthy lifestyles in adolescents are recommended.

Effects of Sport Participation on the Lifestyle of Secondary School Adolescents in Uyo Metropolis

Effects of Sport Participation on the Lifestyle of Secondary School Adolescents in Uyo Metropolis

The Importance of Sports Activities in the Formation of Skills for an Active and Healthy Lifestyle in Young People

Sports activities play a crucial role in developing the skills for an active and healthy lifestyle in adolescents, providing students with the opportunity to experience and engage in a variety of activities in order to develop their motor, social, and intellectual skills. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the essential role that sports activities have in skills training, necessary for an active and healthy lifestyle in adolescents. The objectives of the research include examining the physical benefits of sports activities on the health of adolescents, highlighting the development of motor skills through sports activities, and analyzing the impact of sports activities on the social and emotional development of adolescents, especially through identifying strategies and resources available to encourage adolescents to participate in sports activities and adopt an active and healthy lifestyle. Sports activities are essential for training the skills for an active and healthy lifestyle in adolescents, contributing to the improvement of physical and mental health, the development of social and emotional skills, and the increase of self-confidence and self-esteem.

Association between adolescent lifestyle factors and high-energy traumas in early adulthood: A longitudinal study

IntroductionLongitudinal studies investigating lifestyle factors as risk factors for high-energy traumas from adolescence to adulthood are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 14 to 18-year old adolescent health-related behaviours, overweight, chronic disease, family socioeconomic status (SES), and adulthood education level on the risk of high-energy traumas during the average 27-year follow-up in Finland. Materials and methodsThe baseline data were surveys gathered biennially from 1981 to 1997 (the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey) and individually linked with outcome data on high-energy traumas retrieved from the Care Register for Health Care until the year 2018. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the associations between the exposure variables in adolescence (frequent physical activity, overweight, smoking, monthly drunkenness, chronic disease, family SES, adulthood education level) and the overall risk for high-energy traumas. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. ResultsA total of 876 persons (1.8 %) had a high-energy trauma during the follow-up. High-energy trauma diagnoses overall were more common among males than among females (2.8 % vs 1.0 %). Follow-up showed that those who smoked (aOR 1.49, CI 1.40–1.58), were drunk monthly (aOR 1.49, CI 1.39–1.59), had a chronic disease (aOR 1.22, CI 1.12–1.34) in adolescence or had attained only low education level in adulthood (aOR 1.39, CI 1.30–1.48) had higher odds for high-energy traumas. Frequent physical activity or overweight in adolescence were not related to the higher odds for high-energy traumas. ConclusionSmoking, monthly drunkenness, self-reported chronic diseases in adolescence, and low educational level in adulthood increased the risk of high-energy traumas during the mean follow-up of 27-years. Frequent physical activity and overweight in adolescence did not predict the occurrence of high-energy traumas. Intervention programs should also focus on the long-term consequences of these risk factors.

A personalised nutrition intervention for adolescent depression: a mixed-methods feasibility pilot study.

Randomised controlled trials have demonstrated the benefit of diet modification to improve diet quality in the treatment of adult major depressive disorder (MDD). However, research examining nutritional interventions for adolescents with MDD is sparse. This pilot study examined the feasibility of a personalised nutrition intervention for adolescents with MDD. Ten adolescents with MDD and their parents recruited from a tertiary care setting participated in an 8-week, single-arm mixed-methods study. Feasibility was assessed using five criteria (demand, acceptability, implementation, adaptation and limited efficacy testing) alongside qualitative interviews. The intervention involved four bi-weekly virtual nutrition counselling sessions with a stepped approach to dietary change, menu planning, grocery delivery and educational eHealth messages. Study participants sought positive changes in diet, health and lifestyle for adolescents and family-wide benefits. Recruitment challenges included concerns about managing mood fluctuations, anticipated dietary restrictions and the potential time and effort required for diet adherence. Feedback based on interviews emphasised moderate to high acceptability, satisfaction with menu planning and counselling and recognition of the benefits of trying new foods and sustaining positive dietary changes beyond the study. Improvements in depression symptoms (Cohen's d = 0·36, 95 % CI (-0·24, 3·36)), parent food modeling (Cohen's d = 0·24, 95 % CI (-0·43, 1·16) and the family food environment (Cohen's d = 0·61, 95 % CI (-0·04, 2·61)) were observed. This nutrition intervention was feasible for adolescents with MDD and was acceptable to both parents and depressed adolescents. These preliminary data suggest that further examination of the intervention and its potential benefits on depression symptoms and family food dynamics are warranted.

Association between objectively-measured sleep duration and early cardiac and hepatic imaging changes in adolescents: insights from the EnIGMA study

Abstract Introduction Inadequate sleep duration (SD) has been associated with adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in adults and adiposity in all life stages. Furthermore, previous cross-sectional studies have shown a possible association between self-reported SD and cardiac structural alterations as detected with echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR), even in young healthy people. However, there is a lack of longitudinal studies demonstrating an association between objectively-measured SD and structural cardiac alterations. Purpose To assess the association between SD and MR-derived cardiac and hepatic parameters in adolescents. Methods This study used longitudinal data collected as part of the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial in Spain (2017-2021), which enrolled 1326 participants (mean age: 12.5±0.5 years at baseline). Measurements were taken at three different time-points: baseline, 2-year follow-up and 4-year follow-up. SD and physical activity were assessed by accelerometry for seven consecutive days at each follow-up. The participants were offered to undergo a MR scan in the final follow-up as part of the Early imaging markers of unhealthy lifestyles in adolescents (EnIGMA) study. The imaging protocol included a cine SSFP to provide images for chamber size and function, myocardial tagging acquisitions to assess myocardial strain, T1 and T2 mapping sequences to provide precise myocardial relaxation time properties, and a liver mDixonQuant sequence to obtain liver fat content, using a 3-T scanner. The cumulative effect of the independent variable (SD) and the covariates was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) method, calculating the integral of the curve parameters during the follow-up period for each subject. To facilitate interpretation, AUC values were divided by the years of follow-up. The participants were included in the analysis if they had available data for SD in at least 2 of the 3 time-points. The association between SD and the MR parameters was assessed by linear regression models. Results 109 participants (61 girls [56.0%]; mean age=16.0±0.5 years) were included in this study. Indexed left ventricular (LV) mass, as well as indexed end-diastolic biventricular volumes were higher in boys than in girls (Figure 1). SD AUC (hours/day) was independently and inversely associated with indexed LV mass and liver fat fraction in the unadjusted and adjusted (age, gender, physical activity, body mass index percentile, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles AUCs) models (Figure 2). There were no significant associations between the SD AUC and other MR-derived parameters. Conclusion Shorter SD is independently associated with initial stages of cardiac remodeling and liver fat accumulation as assessed with state-of-the-art MR as early as in adolescence. Considering these results, health promotion programs should be implemented early in life emphasizing the importance of good sleep habits.Participant characteristicsAssociation between SD and MR

UnDErstanding consumer food choices & promotion of healthy and sustainable Mediterranean diet and LIfestyle in Children and adolescents through behavIOUral change actionS: the DELICIOUS project

Abstract Over the last decades, the abandonment of traditional dietary patterns and engagement in unhealthy lifestyles (including poor physical activity, prolonged screen time, poor sleep behaviours) in children and adolescents has been considered an important threat for the future health of the younger generations living in the Mediterranean area and the safeguard of the environment. The DELICIOUS project aims to promote healthy lifestyles among children and adolescents by implementing activities and tools to increase the adherence to the Mediterranean diet with an attention to the environmental impacts of dietary habits. The DELICIOUS project as a single-arm, uncontrolled behavioral intervention program providing formal and non-formal education activities, development of new snacks and recipe reformulation, web/mobile app development, and physical activities to school children and adolescents in five European countries. Over 2000 families joined a preliminary survey to investigate potential determinants of adherence to a healthy diet. Children and adolescents recruited from schools in the parterns’ countries are now currently being recruited to participate to the intervention activities. A web application for school canteen and a mobile application for parents have been developed to help both schools and families to track and provide healthy and sustainable meals. The project aims to increase awareness of the nutritional benefits and the sustainability aspects of the Mediterranean Diet and to promote consumers’ empowerment through an online platform for sustainable and healthy meal planning in the school canteen.

Parental Competence and Pornography Use among Hispanic Adolescents.

This study aims to determine the association between parental competence (warmth, demandingness, and parental education in fortitude and in privacy) and pornography use. This study presents cross-sectional data from an ongoing international study (YOURLIFE Project) about the opinions and lifestyles of adolescents with respect to affectivity, love, and sexuality. Adolescents (N = 2516) aged 12-15 from Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Spain were included. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to analyze the association between family assets (parental demandingness, warmth, and parental fortitude and privacy education) and pornography use. The results indicated an association between parental warmth and pornography use among boys and girls. Furthermore, privacy education was highly associated with less pornography use only in girls. Parental demandingness and parental fortitude education were not associated with pornography use. Our findings suggest that new educational perspectives including privacy issues should be considered within programs for pornography use prevention among adolescents. Parents should incorporate these variables when discussing pornography with their adolescents and not only focus on filters or demandingness.

Lifestyle Patterns among Adolescents in Selected Schools of District Rohtak, Haryana: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: - Adolescence is a period in which an individual undergoes major physical and psychological changes. There is convincing evidence between lifestyle diseases and unhealthy habits which are acquired during adolescence and persist in adulthood. An early investigation of the lifestyles of adolescents will probably prevent their progression into serious diseases. Methods: - The present cross-sectional study recruited 600 adolescents studying 9th to 12th in the selected schools of Rohtak, Haryana, India. The lifestyle-related behavior and practices were assessed based on a structured proforma with the following domains: - home & environment, education, eating habits, and sexuality. Ethical permission was obtained from the concerned authorities. Results: - The mean age of the study subjects was 15.9 (SD-1.4) and most of them were males (61%). More than half of the study subjects (52.7%) were having BMI of 18 to 25 Kg/m2 and 39.8% of them belonged to lower middle socio-economic status. A major proportion of the students felt happy to go to school (64%) and were regular in attending school (90%). The majority of them reported having some spiritual beliefs (88%). A major proportion of the students reported that they own smartphones (83%) and were using various social networking sites (83%). Around 63% of the subjects reported eating fast food on monthly basis. About 11% of the subjects reported the usage of alcohol in the current 3 months. Around 20% of the subjects reported knowledge regarding HIV/STD. Conclusion: - The study documents the presence of unhealthy dietary practices, higher levels of usage of mobile phones along with alcohol use in the school children in this setting. The current study provides some preliminary data for policymakers so that they can modify the current policies and interventions according to the needs of adolescents.

Prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adolescents in Nagarjun municipality: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionOverweight and obesity are a growing global public health threat increasingly prevalent among adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries such as Nepal. These conditions are influenced by multifaceted social, behavioural, and habitual factors. Adolescents are particularly at risk due to changing dietary and lifestyle patterns. Additionally, the current nutritional shift, economic progress and rapid urbanisation pose significant threats to nutrition-related health outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adolescents in Nepal.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to January 2023 among 768 randomly selected adolescents from 10 schools in the Nagarjun municipality of Nepal. Anthropometric measurements of height and weight were assessed using standard tools, and the corresponding body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Factors associated with overweight/obesity were examined using the χ2tests, followed by logistic regression analyses. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05 and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).ResultsThe overall prevalence of overweight/obesity among adolescents was 6.38% (95% CI 4.64% to 8.11%). The mean weight, height and BMI of the participants were 50.22±9.37 kg, 160.17±9.14 cm and 19.56±3.24 kg/m2, respectively. Adolescents studying in higher grades (AOR 3.61, 95% CI 1.26 to 10.30), uninvolved in any kind of physical activity (AOR 4.97, 95% CI 2.38 to 10.34) and various games and extracurricular activities at school (AOR 2.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.28) and consuming high-calorie sugar-rich foods as lunch (AOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.31 to 6.94) were more likely of being overweight/obese than their respective counterparts.ConclusionOverweight and obesity are significantly influenced by lifestyles that involve minimal to no physical activity and by the dietary habits of adolescents. The findings warrant interventions in educational and home settings aiming to improve the lifestyles of adolescents.

The Influence of Family and Peer Support on Healthy Lifestyles on Adolescents in Medan City

<p><em>Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2018 recorded that 2.5 percent of stroke sufferers had suffered from stroke since the age of 18-24 years and 13.22 percent suffered from hypertension. In addition, non-communicable diseases found in school-age children and adolescents were cancer at 0.47 percent, asthma at 2.2 percent, diabetes mellitus at 1.6 percent, heart disease at 0.7 percent and obesity at 10 percent. Unhealthy lifestyles are the cause of non-communicable diseases in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between family and peer support and a healthy lifestyle in adolescents in Medan City in 2024. This type of research is a quantitative research that is an analytical survey with a cross-sectional method. This research was conducted from February to July 2024. The study population was high school adolescents in Medan City who were selected as sample clusters in this study, namely 7679 people. The research sample was 334 respondents using the Isaac and Michael formula with the proportional random sampling method for each school. The data collection method used a questionnaire through a questionnaire. Data analysis using univariate and bivariate analysis using the Chi Square test, the results of which are described in the frequency distribution table. The results showed that the lifestyle of adolescents in Medan City was in the unhealthy lifestyle category with a percentage of 61.7 percent. There is a relationship between family and peer support and a healthy lifestyle in adolescents in Medan City. all variables obtained values (p <0.05). So it can be concluded that there is a relationship between family and peer support and a healthy lifestyle in adolescents in Medan City.</em></p><div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p><em> </em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><strong><em>Keyword: Adolescents, Family Support, Healthy Lifestyle, Peer</em></strong></p>

청소년의 식생활라이프스타일에 따른 외식행동 및 배달·테이크아웃 이용실태 : 2020년 식품소비행태조사 자료 이용

청소년의 식생활라이프스타일에 따른 외식행동 및 배달·테이크아웃 이용실태 : 2020년 식품소비행태조사 자료 이용

Screening for Nutritional Status and Strengthening Healthy Lifestyle in Adolescents

Screening for Nutritional Status and Strengthening Healthy Lifestyle in Adolescents

Differences in the prevalence of allergy and asthma among US children and adolescents during and before the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of allergies and asthma has led to a growing global socioeconomic burden. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and lifestyles of children and adolescents have changed dramatically. It’s unclear how this shift impacted allergy and asthma, with limited studies addressing this question. We aim to explore the difference of the prevalence of allergies and asthma among US children and adolescents during and before the COVID-19 pandemic using a nationally representative sample of US children and adolescents.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 31,503 participants in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) between 2018 and 2021. Allergies and asthma were defined on an affirmative response in the questionnaire by a parent or guardian. Chi-square tests were used to compare baseline characteristics with allergies and asthma for categorical variables. Differences in prevalence during and before the COVID-19 pandemic were estimated with weighted logistic regression, adjusting for demographic factors. Interaction analyses explored variations across strata.ResultsIn US children and adolescents aged 0 to 17, prevalence of any allergy was 26.1% (95% CI, 24.8%- 27.4%) in 2018 and 27.1% (95% CI, 25.9%- 28.2%) in 2021. Thereinto, in 2018, prevalence of respiratory allergies, food allergies and skin allergies were 14.0% (95% CI, 13.1%- 15.0%), 6.5% (95% CI, 5.8%- 7.1%) and 12.6% (95% CI, 11.6%- 13.5%), respectively, and in 2021, 18.8% (95% CI, 17.8%- 19.9%), 5.8% (95% CI, 5.2%- 6.4%) and 10.7% (95% CI, 9.9%- 11.5%), respectively. And prevalence of asthma was 11.1% (95% CI, 10.5%- 11.7%) in 2018–2019 and 9.8% (95% CI, 9.2%- 10.4%) in 2020–2021. Prevalence of respiratory allergies, skin allergies and asthma during and before the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents had statistically significant differences. The differences persisted after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic variables.ConclusionPrevalence of respiratory allergies increased and the prevalence of both skin allergies and asthma decreased among US children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is required to explore the association between allergic diseases and the pandemic, with a particular emphasis on the impact of lifestyle changes resulting from measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.

The Influence of Adolescent health-related Behaviors on Degenerative Low Back Pain Hospitalizations and Surgeries in Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study.

Retrospective longitudinal study. This study aims to investigate the influence of adolescent health-related behaviors (physical activity, high BMI, drunkenness, smoking), self-reported chronic disease, and low socioeconomic status (SES) on the development of low back pain requiring hospitalization or surgery. The baseline data were surveys gathered biennially in 1981-1997 (the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey) and individually linked with outcome data, degenerative low back pain hospitalizations, and spine surgeries retrieved from the Care Register for Health Care. A total of 47 724 participants were included. Explanatory variables included physical activity, high BMI, smoking, monthly drunkenness, chronic diseases, and family SES. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the influence of adolescent health-related behaviors (physical activity, high BMI, drunkenness, smoking), self-reported chronic disease, and low socioeconomic status (SES) on degenerative low back pain hospitalization, lumbar disc herniation (LDH) hospitalization and/or spine surgery. Covariates were selected using directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). A total of 5538 participants had degenerative low back pain hospitalizations, 2104 had LDH hospitalizations, and 913 had spinal surgery over an average of 27-years follow-up. High BMI (aOR 1.25, CI 1.12-1.38), smoking (aOR 1.53, CI 1.43-1.62), monthly drunkenness (aOR 1.17, CI 1.10-1.26), and chronic diseases (aOR 1.47, CI 1.35-1.61) in adolescence increased the odds of hospitalizations during follow-up. In addition, high BMI (aOR 1.37, CI 1.09-1.72), smoking (aOR 1.40, CI 1.21-1.61), and monthly drunkenness (aOR 1.19, CI 1.01-1.39) increased the odds of spine surgeries. We found that smoking, high BMI, monthly drunkenness, chronic diseases, and low family SES in adolescence increased the likelihood of degenerative low back pain hospitalizations in adulthood. In addition, high BMI, smoking, and monthly drunkenness in adolescence increased the odds of spinal surgeries.

Lifestyle and Behavioural Changes of Adolescents during Pandemic Period

The COVID-19 had an impact on people’s social interaction and has brought changes to education, environment and economy. The whole world is under the effects of the COVID19 pandemic, which has put all nations in a unique lockdown situation to contain the disease. This unexpected lockdown has taken a toll on humans’ mental health. The effects of lockdown can affect the school as well as college students due to fear, anxiety and stress. This study intends to assess the adolescents' lifestyle and behavioural changes during Covid-19. The student’s Perception Scale was developed by the investigators. Survey method was employed to determine the perception of 120 students towards their life style and behavioural changes during Covid-19. The present study was conducted using an online survey and its designated link was distributed through social media. The findings of the study concluded that there is no significant difference in perception towards lifestyle and behavioural changes with respect to gender, age and type of family. The findings of the study further revealed that the type of institution has a significant effect on students’ perceptions of behavioural changes.

Antrodia camphorata Supplementation during Early Life Alters Gut Microbiota and Inhibits Young-Onset Intestinal Tumorigenesis in APC1638N Mice Later in Life.

Young-onset colorectal cancer is an increasing concern worldwide due to the growing prevalence of Westernized lifestyles in childhood and adolescence. Environmental factors during early life, particularly early-life nutrition, significantly contribute to the increasing incidence. Recently, there have been reports of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer, of a unique fungus (Antrodia camphorate, AC) native to Taiwan. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of AC supplementation in early life on the development of young-onset intestinal tumorigenesis. APC1638N mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HF) at 4-12 weeks of age, which is equivalent to human childhood/adolescence, before switching to a normal maintenance diet for an additional 12 weeks up to 24 weeks of age, which is equivalent to young to middle adulthood in humans. Our results showed that the body weight in the HF groups significantly increased after 8 weeks of feeding (p < 0.05). Following a switch to a normal maintenance diet, the change in body weight persisted. AC supplementation significantly suppressed tumor incidence and multiplicity in females (p < 0.05) and reduced IGF-1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling (p < 0.05). Moreover, it altered the gut microbiota, suppressed inflammatory responses, and created a microenvironment towards suppressing tumorigenesis later in life.

Long-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle changes related to school-aged children in Bandar Abbas, Iran

BackgroundDespite the end of the COVID-19 lockdown and reopening of schools, the long-term effects of quarantine on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle of children and adolescents remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the long-term effects of the lockdown on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle changes of children and adolescents in Iran.MethodThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2022. The target population comprised one hundred students aged between 10 and 16 years old. Our study obtained students’ weight and height data from records maintained by school principals or physical education instructors before and after the quarantine period. The BMI z-score (zBMI) was calculated for each time point. The researchers also provided a questionnaire to collect the students’ demographic and lifestyle status changes during school closures.ResultsWe found that the zBMI increased significantly from − 0.02 ± 1.64 to 0.36 ± 1.12, and the number of individuals with overweight and obesity increased by 3% during quarantine (P ≤ 0.05). These changes were more pronounced in males and students aged 14–16 years old. We also found that eating habits, sleeping time, sleeping patterns, screen time (time spent on social media per day), and physical activity had significant negative changes during quarantine, and a significant increase in zBMI was observed among students who experienced negative eating behaviors, altered sleeping patterns, and decreased physical activity during school closures.ConclusionAs prolonged school closures due to the COVID-19 lockdown aggravated students’ health and lifestyle status, our findings can aid in proper planning to establish an appropriate framework for the diet, physical activity, and sleeping quality of students during extended school closures.

The relationship between intervertebral disc pathologies and the use of digital devices and lack of physical activity in adolescents

Background/Aim: Existing research on herniated discs in adolescents primarily focuses on surgical interventions and outcomes, with fewer studies investigating the effectiveness of non-surgical therapies. The correlation between obesity, facet tropism, lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, trauma, certain sports activities, and herniated discs in adolescents is well-documented. Comparable to adults, a sedentary lifestyle in adolescents potentially carries a significant risk of developing disc degeneration and herniation. Consequently, this study aims to examine the relationship between increased digital device usage, decreased physical activity, and the onset of disc pathologies in adolescents. Methods: The study group included 94 patients aged between 10 and 16 years diagnosed with cervical (CDH), thoracic (TDH), and lumbar (LDH) disc disease. For each participant, the individual daily usage time spent on desktop computers, tablets, laptops, and mobile phones and the total time spent on all digital devices were evaluated. Their level of physical activity was also assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The study eliminated causes such as listhesis, facet tropism, lumbosacral transitional vertebra, trauma, and sports injuries that could prompt the development of these spinal pathologies. Additionally, other conditions that might cause spinal pain, such as scoliosis, rheumatological diseases with spinal involvement, tumors, and myofascial pain, were also ruled out. Results: The average age of all patients was 13.44 (2.07) years. A majority were women (n=55), comprising 58.50% of the sample. Of the patients, 60.64% had CDH, 12.77% had TDH, and 75.53% had LDH. The amount of physical activity and time spent on digital devices were similar across both genders (P=0.194 and P=0.770). A significant correlation was found between CDH and the time spent on tablets, laptops, and mobile phones (P&lt;0.001). Again, a significant correlation was observed between LDH, usage of desktop computers, total time spent on all digital devices, and the IPAQ-SF score for low physical activity (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence and duration of digital device use among adolescents are increasing, while physical activity is decreasing. Our study indicates that this situation may be linked to the development of disc degeneration and hernias. Understanding this association can help reduce treatment and rehabilitation costs and prevent the potential loss of workability and quality of life resulting from a herniated disc. Consequently, additional comparative research on this topic is crucial.