Prolonged Sedentary Activities Heighten Mental Health Risks in Teens: Research
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Synopsis
A recent study reveals that teenagers engaging in over three hours of sedentary activities daily, including video gaming and screen time, face increased risks of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The research suggests interventions to limit screen time and promote educational activities.
Key Takeaways
- Excessive sedentary behaviour increases mental health risks.
- Video gaming correlates with heightened psychological distress.
- Moderate educational screen time is beneficial for mental health.
- Excessive reading can lead to increased isolation.
- Implementing screen time limits can enhance adolescent well-being.
New Delhi, Feb 24 (NationPress) Adolescents and teenagers who dedicate over three hours daily to sedentary activities—including video gaming and extended screen time—face a heightened risk of mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, as indicated by recent research.
The investigation, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, revealed that youths spending more than 180 minutes daily on screens for leisure exhibited increased psychological distress by age 17.
Video gaming proved particularly impactful, with each additional hour correlating to a 3 percent rise in psychological distress. Furthermore, those engaged in over three hours of leisure reading (notably among boys) also reported increased psychological distress.
Conversely, moderate screen time (ranging from 60 to 119 minutes per day) dedicated to educational purposes, such as homework and classes, was identified as a protective factor linked to lower psychological distress.
“Sedentary behaviour encompasses various activities, including computer use, television viewing, reading, and attending classes. While most studies focus on overall sitting time, positive sedentary activities—like attending class and completing homework—exist alongside less beneficial activities, such as excessive Internet use or video gaming,” said Andre de Oliveira Werneck, a doctoral student at the School of Public Health of the University of Sao Paulo (FSP-USP) in Brazil.
The rise of sedentary behaviour in adolescents poses a growing global concern. It not only elevates physical health risks, such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases, but also adversely affects mental health, increasing feelings of anxiety and depression.
To investigate these issues, researchers from King's College London in the UK gathered data from 3,675 adolescents at ages 14 and 17. At age 14, participants recorded their physical activity, sleep duration, recreational screen time, non-screen leisure time, and educational sedentary behaviour.
At 17, the same individuals reported their levels of psychological distress.
While earlier studies linked reading with improved mental health and other positive behaviours, this new research suggests excessive reading may be detrimental in certain scenarios.
Teens who spend extensive hours reading might be displacing time that could be utilized for more socially engaging or outdoor activities, which are beneficial, resulting in increased isolation, according to the researchers. Additionally, some reading may occur on digital devices (like cell phones, computers, or tablets), which can also have negative effects.
In light of these findings, researchers recommend interventions such as implementing clear screen time limits and promoting more educational and structured screen activities instead of passive recreational screen time.
