Screen Time and Physical Activity in Spanish Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Serrano-Sanchez Jose A., Martí-Trujillo Sara, Lera-Navarro Angela, Dorado-García Cecilia, González-Henríquez Juan J., Sanchís-Moysi Joaquín
Primary Institution: University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Hypothesis
Adolescents accumulating higher daily screen-times would have a greater risk of not achieving the recommended levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Conclusion
Total screen time is negatively associated with MVPA levels in boys, but no single screen-related behavior explained the reduction of MVPA in adolescents.
Supporting Evidence
- 46% of girls and 26% of boys did not meet MVPA recommendations.
- Boys with ≥4 hours of screen-time had a 64% increased risk of failing to meet MVPA levels.
- Participation in organized physical activities was more strongly associated with MVPA than screen time.
Takeaway
If kids spend too much time in front of screens, they might not be active enough, but doing sports can help them stay active.
Methodology
A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select adolescents, and MVPA and screen-time were assessed through standardized questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from self-reported measures and the study's focus on a specific geographic area.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions, and self-reported data may have lower validity.
Participant Demographics
Adolescents aged 12-18 years from Gran Canaria, Spain, with a gender distribution of 48.4% boys and 51.6% girls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.61 (for total screen-time ≥4 h•d−1)
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.44–0.86
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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