Problematic Use of Internet-Related Activities and Perceived Weight Stigma in Schoolchildren: A Longitudinal Study Across Different Epidemic Periods of COVID-19 in China

Abstract

Background: Social distancing and school suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) may have a negative impact on children's behavior and well-being. Problematic smartphone use (PSU), problematic social media use (PSMU) and perceived weight stigma (PWS) are particularly important issues for children, yet we have a poor understanding of how these may have been affected by lockdowns and physical isolation resulting from COVID-19. This research aimed to understand how these psychosocial and behavioral variables may be associated with psychological distress, and how these associations may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A total of 489 children completed a three-wave longitudinal study from January 2020 to June 2020. The first wave was conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak. The second wave was conducted during the outbreak. The third wave was conducted during post-COVID-19 lockdown. Questionnaires measured psychological distress, PSU, PSMU, and PWS.Results: PSU, PSMU, PWS and psychological distress were all significantly associated with each other. PSU was significantly higher during outbreak. PWS was significantly higher before outbreak. We found an increased association between PSMU and PWS across three waves in all three models. The association between PSU and depression/anxiety decreased across three waves; however, association between PSMU and depression/anxiety increased across three waves.Conclusions: COVID-19 initiated school suspension and associated lockdowns appear to have exacerbated PSU and depression among children. However, PWS was reduced during this period. Children should use smartphones and social media safely and cautiously, and be aware of the potential exposure to weight stigmatization.

Smartphone Addiction and Depression among Low-Income Boys since COVID-19: The Moderating Effect of Being an Only Child

“…South Korean fourth graders were more prone to smartphone addiction before COVID-19 than during [1]. However, problematic smartphone use prevalence was higher among Chinese primary schoolchildren during a COVID-19-related lockdown than before the pandemic [2]. Moreover, parents of American children aged 2-13 years reported that their children's problematic media use had increased during the pandemic as compared to in Spring 2019 [16].…”

“…Smartphone addiction is a common but growing issue among adolescents in South Korea [9], and studies in that country and others have shown that smartphone addiction and/or problematic smartphone use have increased among adolescents and adults since the COVID-19 pandemic [1,2,11,16,17]. South Korean fourth graders were more prone to smartphone addiction before COVID-19 than during [1].…”

“…Since COVID-19, middle and high school students have been less likely to meet their friends in person due to the risk of spreading coronavirus. Along with the reduced frequency of meeting with friends in person and the emergence of online classes since COVID-19, students may be more likely to become addicted to using their smartphone [1,2,11,16,17]. With reduced in person contact, they tend to be more isolated, leading to increased risk of depression.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected children's and adolescents' lives around the world. Compared to before the pandemic, children and adolescents have drastically increased their screentime, including their use of smartphones, and more children and adolescents are considered to be addicted to their smartphone or are engaging in problematic smartphone use than before the pandemic [1,2]. Moreover, children and adolescents are more depressed now than before the pandemic [3,4], and smartphone addiction and problematic smartphone use have been found to be positively associated with depression, although this data includes studies conducted before COVID-19 [5,6].…”

Longitudinal association between smartphone ownership and depression among schoolchildren under COVID-19 pandemic

“…Motivated by the concerns about the mental health effects of increased ST among children, some findings have already been revealed under the current pandemic. For example, a longitudinal study conducted in China between January 2020 and June 2020 showed that school closures and lockdowns may have increased problematic smartphone use and depression [8]. A study that examined the association between Internet use and psychological distress at two time points, in early November 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak and at the end of March 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak, reported that schoolchildren who increased their Internet-related activity by 15 or 30 min daily under the pandemic had increased levels of psychological distress [9].…”