Comparing three screen-based sedentary behaviours' effect upon adolescents' participation in physical activity: The ESSENS study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 11; p. e0241887
• Main Authors: Chortatos, Arthur, Henjum, Sigrun, Torheim, Liv Elin, Terragni, Laura, Gebremariam, Mekdes K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 25.11.2020; PLOS; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent psychology; Adolescents; Behavior; Biology and Life Sciences; Cellular telephones; Computer & video games; Computer and Information Sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Education; Electronic games; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Health aspects; Health promotion; Health sciences; Humans; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metabolism; Mobile devices; Norway; Nursing; Participation; People and Places; Physical activity; Physical Sciences; Psychological aspects; Questionnaires; Regression Analysis; Research and Analysis Methods; Screen time; Secondary schools; Sedentary Behavior; Social Sciences; Streaming; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Television; Time Factors; Video Games; Norway
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241887

Literature focusing on the association between sedentary behaviours and physical activity has provided equivocal results and has been dominated by TV viewing as the indicator of sedentary behaviour. There is a need for more studies exploring the association between contemporary screen activities and physical activity among youth. A cross-sectional study including 742 adolescents was conducted in 2016. Data were collected at school through an online questionnaire. Regression analyses were used to explore the association between different screen-based sedentary behaviours and participation in physical activity. The results showed that those with lower (vs higher) time spent on TV/movie streaming and electronic game playing both on weekdays and weekend days had significantly higher odds of participating in physical activity. There were no significant associations between socializing/surfing online both on weekdays and weekend days and physical activity in adjusted models. TV/movie streaming and electronic game playing during both weekdays and weekend days were significantly inversely related with participating in physical activity. Initiatives aimed at reducing screen-based sedentary activities might result in favourable effects on physical activity levels among adolescents.