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Cited by 20Impact of Technology on AdolescentsPhysical Activity and HealthChild Development and Digital Technology

Electronic Games, Television, and Psychological Wellbeing of Adolescents: Mediating Role of Sleep and Physical Activity

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Khan, Asaduzzaman, Burton, Nicola W.·2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DOI 10.3390/ijerph18168877PMC PMC8393885
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Abstract

This study investigated the associations between two common recreational screen activities and the psychological wellbeing of adolescents, and whether this association was mediated by sleep duration or physical activity frequency. This study used nationally representative cross-sectional survey data from 2946 adolescents (mean age 16.9 [0.38] years; 49% female) in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Adolescents provided information on daily time spent for each of the following: playing electronic games and watching television, time of sleep onset and wakeup, and number of days/week doing ≥60 min/day of physical activity. Psychological wellbeing was assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the associations, and a contemporary multiple mediation analysis was used to examine the mediation effects. One fifth (20%) of adolescents were categorized as having poor wellbeing (SDQ total ≥17) with a significant sex difference (males: 16%; females: 24%; p < 0.001). Playing electronic games was inversely associated with psychological wellbeing for both male and female adolescents (p < 0.001). Watching television was inversely associated with psychological wellbeing for female adolescents (p < 0.001). Sleep duration and physical activity frequency were found to partially mediate the relationships between playing electronic games and the psychological wellbeing of male and female adolescents. Physical activity frequency partially mediated the association between television watching and wellbeing among female adolescents. Longitudinal studies are required to determine the causal pathway between screen-based activities and the wellbeing of adolescents, and to inform intervention strategies.

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  • Computer use (such as for internet, email, and games) was associated with impairment of mental well-being, psychological well-being, and an increase in depressive symptoms.

    “A relationship was observed between computer use (such as for internet, email, and games) with impairment of mental well-being [59], psychological well-being [35] and an increase in depressive symptoms [61, 65].”

    From The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [35]

    The Discussion reports that time spent on electronic games was inversely associated with psychological wellbeing among adolescents. But the Exposures section measured electronic gaming, not broader computer use such as internet or email use. Citation [35] is attached to psychological wellbeing; the sentence cites other sources for mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Watching TV was inversely associated with psychological well-being for girls.

    “psychological well-being for girls [35]”

    From The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [35]

  • Watching television was inversely associated with psychological well-being in girls.

    “Watching television was also inversely associated with psychological well-being in girls in one study [35].”

    From The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [35]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Khan, A., & Burton, N. W.
Affiliations
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • Griffith University (AU)
Corresponding author
Khan, Asaduzzaman
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-08-23
Volume
18
Issue
16
Pages
8877
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ijerph18168877
PMC
PMC8393885
OpenAlex
W3194883613
Cited by
20
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2
FWCI
3.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Department of Social Services, Australian Government
  • University of Queensland
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
Keywords
video games, television viewing, sleep duration, physical activity, screen time, mediation, sex differences, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Australia, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Electronics, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Sleep, Television, Exercise

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