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Journal Article Epublish 2 citations

PubMed: 40063937 DOI: 10.2196/57962

Nationwide Trends in Screen Time and Associated Risk Factors by Family Structures Among Adolescents, 2008-2022: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

JMIR Public Health Surveill 11:e57962

Authors: Seokjun Kim, Hyesu Jo, Yejun Son, Min Kyung Shin, Kyeongmin Lee, Jaeyu Park, Hayeon Lee, Lee Smith, Elena Dragioti, Guillaume Fond, Laurent Boyer, Guillermo F López Sánchez, Mark A Tully, Masoud Rahmati, Damiano Pizzol, Selin Woo, Dong Keon Yon

Affiliations

  • Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Precision Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Department of Medicine, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
  • Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Electronics and Information Convergence Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
  • Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  • Research Laboratory Psychology of Patients, Families, and Health Professionals, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
  • CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.
  • Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
  • School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, United Kingdom.
  • Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran.
  • Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran.
  • Health Unit, Eni, San Donato Milanese, Italy.
  • Health Unit, Eni, Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Precision Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Although understanding long-term trends in adolescent screen time and the influence of family structure is essential, there is a lack of research addressing these issues comprehensively.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to conduct comprehensive investigations into adolescent screen time before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on family structures.

METHODS

This study used nationwide, large-scale data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey from South Korea. We aimed to indicate the changes in adolescent screen time over 15 years from 2008 to 2022. Weighted linear regression was used to analyze annual trends in screen time before and during the pandemic, and stratified analyses were conducted to examine associated risk factors across different family structures.

RESULTS

This study used data from a total of 836,972 individuals (n=403,456, 48.2% women), with an age range of 12-18 years. The analysis revealed an overall increase in screen time prepandemic (β=8.06, 95% CI 7.74-8.39), with a notable increase observed at the onset of the pandemic (β=162.06, 95% CI 159.49-164.64). Among diverse family structures, the orphanage group showed the most substantial increase in screen time during the pandemic (β=221.90, 95% CI 159.62-284.17). Risk factors associated with screen time during the pandemic varied by family structure. Notably, the nuclear family group presented distinct screen time-related risk factors, including grade, region of residence, physical activity frequency, sadness and despair, and the highest education level of parents.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a notable increase in average screen time among adolescents since the onset of the pandemic, with the orphanage group exhibiting a pronounced trend. The risk factors associated with screen time during the pandemic varied for each family structure. Findings from this study suggest that the implementation of individualized measures tailored to each family structure should be adopted to effectively address the increased issue of adolescent screen time since the pandemic.

MeSH

Cross-Sectional Studies, Public Health, Orphanages, Adolescent, Risk Factors, Pandemics, Family Structure