Concurrent screen use and cross-sectional association with lifestyle behaviours and psychosocial health in adolescent females

Aim

To describe concurrent screen use and any relationships with lifestyle behaviours and psychosocial health.

Methods

Participants wore an accelerometer for seven days to calculate physical activity sleep and sedentary time. Screen ownership and use and psychosocial variables were self-reported. Body mass index (BMI) was measured. Relationships were explored using mixed models accounting for school clustering and confounders.

Results

In 816 adolescent females (age: 12.8 SD 0.8 years; 20.4% non-white European) use of ≥2 screens concurrently was: 59% after school, 65% in evenings, 36% in bed and 68% at weekends. Compared to no screens those using: ≥1 screens at weekends had lower physical activity; ≥2 screens at the weekend or one/two screen at bed had lower weekend moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; one screen in the evening had lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the after-school and evening period; ≥1 screens after school had higher BMI; and ≥3 screens at the weekend had higher weekend sedentary time. Compared to no screens those using: 1-3 after-school screens had shorter weekday sleep; ≥1 screens after-school had lower time in bed.

Conclusion

Screen use is linked to lower physical activity, higher BMI and less sleep. These results can inform screen use guidelines.