Loading...
Using wearable cameras to categorize the type and context of screen-based behaviors among adolescents : Observational study
Thomas, George Bennie, Jason De Cocker, Katrien Andriyani, Fitria Booker, Bridget Biddle, Stuart
Thomas, George
Bennie, Jason
De Cocker, Katrien
Andriyani, Fitria
Booker, Bridget
Biddle, Stuart
Abstract
Background:
Automated wearable cameras present a new opportunity to accurately assess human behavior. However, this technology is seldom used in the study of adolescent’s screen exposure, and the field is reliant on poor-quality self-report data.
Objective:
This study aimed to examine adolescents’ screen exposure by categorizing the type and context of behaviors using automated wearable cameras.
Methods:
Adolescents (mean age 15.4 years, SD 1.6 years; n=10) wore a camera for 3 school evenings and 1 weekend day. The camera captured an image every 10 seconds. Fieldwork was completed between February and March 2020, and data were analyzed in August 2020. Images were date and time stamped, and coded for screen type, content, and context.
Results:
Data representing 71,396 images were analyzed. Overall, 74.0% (52,842/71,396) of images contained screens and 16.8% (11,976/71,396) of images contained multiple screens. Most screen exposures involved television sets (25,950/71,396, 36.3%), smartphones (20,851/71,396, 29.2%), and laptop computers (15,309/71,396, 21.4%). The context of screen use differed by device type, although most screen exposures occurred at home (62,455/64,856, 96.3%) and with solitary engagement (54,430/64,856, 83.9%). The immediate after-school period saw high laptop computer use (4785/15,950, 30.0%), while smartphone use (2059/5320, 38.7%) peaked during prebedtime hours. Weekend screen exposure was high, with smartphone use (1070/1927, 55.5%) peaking in the early morning period and fluctuating throughout the day.
Conclusions:
There was evidence for high screen use during the after-school and weekend period, mostly through solitary engagement, and within the home environment. The findings may inform the basis of larger studies aimed at examining screen exposure in free-living conditions.
Keywords
adolescent, screen time, smartphone, television
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Book
Volume
5
Issue
1
Page Range
1-17
Article Number
Article e28208
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
DOI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open