Screen-based activities and physical complaints among adolescents from the Nordic countries

Abstract

BackgroundA positive association between time spent on sedentary screen-based activities and physical complaints has been reported, but the cumulative association between different types of screen-based activities and physical complaints has not been examined thoroughly.MethodsThe cross-sectional association between screen-based activity and physical complaints (backache and headache) among students was examined in a sample of 31022 adolescents from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Greenland, as part of the Health behaviour in school-aged children 2005/06 (HBSC) study. Daily hours spent on screen-based activities and levels of physical complaints were assessed using self-reports.ResultsLogistic regression analysis indicated that computer use, computer gaming and TV viewing contributed uniquely to prediction of weekly backache and headache. The magnitude of associations was consistent across types of screen based activities, and across gender.ConclusionThe observed associations indicate that time spent on screen-based activity is a contributing factor to physical complaints among young people, and that effects accumulate across different types of screen-based activities.

Age and Gender Differences in Prevalence of Screen Based Behaviour, Physical Activity and Health Complaints among Slovak School-aged Children

“…Computer use was measured by asking: "About how many hours do you spend using a computer (Internet, chatting, e-mailing, homework etc.)?" All questions had the same nine responses categories separately for weekdays and weekends: None at all; About half an hour a day; About 1 hour a day; About 2 hours a day; About 3 hours a day; About 4 hours a day; About 5 hours a day; About 6 hours a day; About 7 or more hours a day (3). Using the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (29) they were classified into three categories as follows: 1 -active less than 2 hours per day; 2 -active 2-3 hours per day; 3 -active more than 3 hours per day.…”

“…A high level of screenbased sedentary behaviour is related to different kind of physical problems (2,3) or psychological complaints (4). According to findings of the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, age differences were observed.…”

Supportive communication with parents moderates the negative effects of electronic media use on life satisfaction during adolescence

“…There is also strong evidence, however, that EM use may be related to a variety of problem behaviors in adolescence, such as internet addiction (Adiele and Olatokun 2014), shortened sleep duration, poorer diet quality, lower physical activity levels, weight gain (Jackson et al 2011;Chahal et al 2013), poor school performance (Mößle et al 2010), loneliness (Deniz 2010), depression and social anxiety symptoms (Becker et al 2013), and increased likelihood of physical complaints (Torsheim et al 2010).…”

Cross-sectional time trends in psychological and somatic health complaints among adolescents: a structural equation modelling analysis of ‘Health Behaviour in School-aged Children’ data from Switzerland

“…Such screenbased activities have been shown to be associated with backache and headache among adolescents [31].…”