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Impact on adolescent mental health of replacing screen-use with exercise : A prospective cohort study
Kandola, Aaron del Pozo Cruz, Borja Hayes, Joseph F. Owen, Neville Dunstan, David W. Hallgren, Mats
Kandola, Aaron
del Pozo Cruz, Borja
Hayes, Joseph F.
Owen, Neville
Dunstan, David W.
Hallgren, Mats
Abstract
Background
Screen-based device use could increase the risk of adolescent depression. Distinct modalities of screen-use may have differential effects on mental health. We used compositional data analysis to examine how theoretically replacing different screen-uses with exercise might influence future adolescent emotional distress.
Methods
In 4,599 adolescents (55% female) from a nationally-representative, prospective cohort, we used time-use diary data at age 14 to estimate daily screen use (television, social media, video game, general computer use) and exercise (team sport and individual exercise). The outcome was emotional distress at age 17, assessed using the emotional symptoms subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
Results
Theoretically replacing 60 min of total screen time with exercise at age 14 was associated with a 0.05 (95%CI -0.08, -0.02) score reduction on the emotional symptoms’ subscale at 17 in fully-adjusted models. Replacing 60 min of television or social media use with team sports was associated with a reduction of 0.17 (95%CI, -0.31, -0.04) and 0.15 (95%CI, -0.29, -0.01) in emotional symptom scores, respectively. We found no change in emotional symptom scores when replacing video game or general computer use with team sport, or when replacing any screen time with individual exercise.
Limitations
No direct measure of depressive symptoms at follow-up.
Conclusions
Replacing any screen time with exercise could reduce emotional distress, but the largest effect sizes were associated with replacing time in television watching and social media with team sports. Recommendations to limit screen-use in adolescents may require a nuanced approach for protecting mental health.
Keywords
depression, sedentary behaviour, physical activity, screen time, distress
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Book
Volume
301
Issue
Page Range
240-247
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled