Psychological Symptoms Are Associated with Screen and Exercise Time: a Cross-sectional Study of Chinese Adolescents

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2020 Nov 13

PMID 33183262

Citations 16

Authors

Feng Zhang

Xiaojian Yin

Cunjian Bi

Liu Ji

Huipan Wu

Yuqiang Li

Yi Sun

Sien Ren

Guodong Wang

Xiaofang Yang

Ming Li

Yuan Liu

Ge Song

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Mental disorders among adolescents have become a worldwide public health problem. This study aimed to estimate the best combination of exercise time and screen time to promote the mental health of Chinese adolescents.

Methods: Participants included 7200 Chinese adolescents aged 13-18 years from six regions of China. Screen and exercise time data were collected via a self-rated questionnaire. Psychological symptoms (e.g., often feeling depressed, school-weary) were evaluated with the "Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents". Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis were conducted to investigate the differences in and correlations among screen time, exercise time, and psychological symptoms.

Results: The overall detection rate of psychological symptoms among Chinese adolescents was 21.4% (22.1% for boys and 20.6% for girls). Psychological symptom detection rates were lowest among adolescents with 1-2 h/d of screen time (19.5%) and those with 30-60 min/d of exercise time (17.3%). Screen time > 2 h/d (OR = 1.38, P < 0.001) and exercise time < 30 min/d (OR = 1.62, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with psychological symptoms.

Conclusion: Screen and exercise time are associated with psychological symptoms in Chinese adolescents. A combination of 1-2 h/d of screen time and 30-60 min/d of exercise time is provided as a reference for better mental health.

Citing Articles

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