Are Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Mental Health Related During Childhood, Preadolescence, and Adolescence? 11-Year Results From the German Motorik-Modul Longitudinal Study
Abstract
Mental health (MH) and behavioral health are fundamental to a good quality of life. Only a few studies have investigated the association between behavioral health (e.g., physical activity (PA), screen time (ST)) and MH from childhood to adolescence. Therefore, we investigated the relationships of PA and ST with MH by sex in an 11-year longitudinal cohort study of German schoolchildren during 2003–2017. A subsample (n = 686; 55.2% female) of participants from the German Motorik-Modul (MoMo) Longitudinal Study who participated in all 3 measurement phases (mean ages: time 1 (baseline; 2003–2006), 5.57 (standard deviation (SD), 1.00) years; time 2 (wave 1; 2009–2012), 11.85 (SD, 1.03) years; time 3 (wave 2; 2014–2017), 16.86 (SD, 1.04) years) were analyzed with regard to PA, ST, and MH (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, prosocial behavior, and overall strengths and difficulties). Path panel prediction models were fitted with time 1, time 2, and time 3 PA, ST, and MH indicators. PA predicted less television (TV)/video watching in females, and TV/video watching predicted personal computer (PC)/Internet use in both sexes. Behavior and MH results suggested that, for females, higher TV/video watching and PC/Internet use was related to higher MH challenges over the course of maturation. Some preadolescent males’ MH challenges increased ST (TV/video watching and PC/Internet use) in adolescence. Researchers should explore innovative and effective methods for reducing childhood ST, especially among females with early signs of MH issues, and addressing preadolescent males’ MH challenges.
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An 11-year study found increased TV viewing and PC use was predictive of conduct problems, hyperactivity, and inattention in girls.
“An 11-year study found that increased TV viewing and Personal Computer (PC) use was predictive of conduct problems, hyperactivity, and inattention in girls [36].”
From The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [36]
CP time positively predicted emotional symptoms.
“CP time positively predicted emotional symptoms in one study [36].”
From The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [36]
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The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review
Santos, R. M. S., Mendes, C. G., Sen Bressani, G. Y., de Alcantara Ventura, S., de Almeida Nogueira, Y. J., de Miranda, D. M., & Romano-Silva, M. A. (2023) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-023-01166-7 · Cited by 311 · see citing works
- Authors
- Nigg, C. R., Wunsch, K., Nigg, C., Niessner, C., Jekauc, D., Schmidt, S. C. E., & Woll, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Bern (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Nigg, Claudio R
- Venue
- American Journal of Epidemiology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2020-09-05
- Volume
- 190
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 220-229
- ISSN
- 0002-9262 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-6256
- OpenAlex
- W3083229777
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 16
- FWCI
- 4.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- American Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- physical activity, screen time, mental health, childhood, late childhood, adolescence, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, prosocial behavior, sex differences, television viewing, computer and internet use
- MeSH terms
- Screen Time, Adolescent, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Emotions, Female, Germany, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mental Health, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior
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