Association of Screen Time and Physical Activity With Information Processing Speed Among School Going Early Adolescents in South India

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Excessive use of smartphones and computers among adolescents together with less physical activity is a major public health concern as it has shown to produce attention difficulties, decreased academic performance and various health issues. This study aims to identify the relationship among screen time, physical activity and cognitive function of adolescents. Materials & Methods:This was a cross sectional study done on students between the age of 10 and 14years of one government and one private school in Trivandrum corporation Kerala.Information processing speed was assessed using Digit Letter Substitution Tests (DLST).Physical Activity was measured using the Youth Physical Activity Questionnaire (YPAQ). Screen time in the study included watching television, playing video games, and using smartphones, tablet devices, desktop, and laptop. Results:147 students participated in the study. Screen time was high across all groups in the study, only 9.5 % of the study group had optimum screen time of 2 hours as recommended by WHO but this group had significantly higher information processing speed.57.1% of adolescents in the study group had adequate physical activity and this group of students had significantly higher DLST score compared to those with low physical activity. Interpretation & Conclusions: The findings of the study could serve as a reliable indicator on the harmfulness of screen time and sedentary lifestyle on cognitive function of young adolescents. This can also help to implement a school-based monitoring on unhealthy life styles and interventions for intellectual development of adolescents in Kerala.