Recreational Screen Time and Anxiety among College Athletes: Findings from Shanghai

Abstract

To better understand the behavioral factors contributing to the mental health status among student athletes, we examined the link between recreational screen time and college student athlete’s anxieties. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 278 college student athletes from Shanghai, China, aged between 17 and 25 years old (M = 19.4, SD = 1.5). Multivariate regression analyses, controlled for age, gender, rural vs. urban residency, and individual vs. team sports factors, were performed to analyze the association between their average daily recreational screen time in a week and their dispositional anxiety, pre-competition anxiety, and anxiety during competition, which were measured by the Chinese version of validated psychometric scales among athlete population. Significant results were found in both dispositional anxiety and situational anxiety in relation to recreational screen time among college athletes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that excessive recreational screen time is a risk indicator of college student athletes’ dispositional anxiety, pre-competition anxiety, and anxiety during competition.

Lifestyle behaviors and mental health during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among college students: a web-based study

“…Some previous studies have also found that high ST may be positively correlated with high level anxiety and depression; therefore, assessing sedentary based ST could also serve as an important factor in measuring health behaviors in young adults [ 46 , 47 ]. During COVID-19, our access to information via social media (ST) has increased dramatically, but the quality has not been controlled.…”

Prevalence and influencing factors of poor body posture among university students: a cross-sectional study from a university in eastern China

“…Meanwhile, a study by Xu et al [7] also found that sedentary lifestyle behaviors of young adults during their college years are important in uences that lead to overweight obesity[8] Cardiovascular diseases metabolic disorder [9] and depression-suicide [10], among other diseases. Scienti c evidence suggests that lack of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and excessive prolonged use of electronic screens [11] are associated with increased risk of obesity [12] cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety [13][14][15]. Liu Jie et al [16] found that college students nowadays have a weak awareness of maintaining the health of body posture and seldom participate in physical exercise in their daily life, which accelerates the emergence of abnormal body posture.…”

Cross-lagged analysis of the relationship between risk perception, physical activity, and adolescent mental health

“…Students invariably increase their screen time during dormitory studies, and excessive screen entertainment time is also a risk indicator for anxiety in adolescents. [4] A study of global adolescent mood problems during the epidemic showed a 31% prevalence of anxiety symptoms and a 34% prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents, both signi cantly higher than before the epidemic. [5] Emotional problems such as anxiety and depression are high-risk factors for triggering suicidal behavior in adolescent populations; however, a study by Yufu Dong during the caused by public emergent crisis events.…”

“…During dorm studies, students always increase their screen use, and for teenagers, excessive screen time is also a risk factor for anxiety. [4] The prevalence of anxiety symptoms among adolescents was found to be 31%, while the prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be 34%, both signi cantly greater than they were before the epidemic. [5] Adolescent populations are at high risk for emotional issues like anxiety and depression, which can lead to suicidal behavior.…”