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Background For optimal health benefits, the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth (aged 5–17 years) recommend an achievement of high levels of physical activity (≥60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), low levels of sedentary behaviour (≤2 h of recreational screen time), and sufficient sleep (9–11 h for children or 8–10 h for adolescents) each day. The objective of this systematic review was to examine how combinations of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration relate to depressive symptoms and other mental health indicators among children and adolescents. Methods Literature was obtained through searching Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and SportDiscus up to September 30, 2019. Peer-reviewed studies published in English or French were included if they met the following criteria: population (apparently healthy children and adolescents with a mean age of 5–17 years), intervention/exposure (combinations of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration), and outcomes (depressive symptoms and other mental health indicators). A risk of bias assessment was completed for all included studies using the methods described in the Cochrane Handbook. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was used to assess the quality of evidence for each health indicator. Narrative syntheses were employed to describe the results due to high levels of heterogeneity across studies. Results A total of 13 cross-sectional studies comprised in 10 papers met inclusion criteria. Data across studies involved 115,540 children and adolescents from 12 countries. Overall, the findings indicated favourable associations between meeting all 3 recommendations and better mental health indicators among children and adolescents when compared with meeting none of the recommendations. There was evidence of a dose-response gradient between an increasing number of recommendations met and better mental health indicators. Meeting the screen time and sleep duration recommendations appeared to be associated with more mental health benefits than meeting the physical activity recommendation. The quality of evidence reviewed was “very low” according to GRADE. Conclusions The findings indicate favourable associations between meeting all 3 movement behaviour recommendations in the 24-h guidelines and better mental health indicators among children and adolescents. There is a clear need for high-quality studies that use robust measures of all movement behaviours and validated measures of mental health to increase our understanding in this topic area.

Background Smartphone screen time has risen sharply in recent years. Even though an association between smartphone use and mental health is well documented, it is still unclear whether this is simply a correlation or causality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of smartphone screen time reduction on mental health indicators. Methods This non-blinded, parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to investigate the impact of a 3-week screen time reduction to ≤ 2 h/d in healthy students on stress (PSQ), well-being (WHO-5), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and sleep quality (ISI) at baseline (t0), post-intervention (t1), and at follow-up (t2 = 6 weeks after t1). For the intention to treat analysis, repeated measures ANOVAs and post-hoc tests (for time as well as group differences) were performed and effect sizes were presented as partial eta squared (η 2  = time × group) and group-mean differences. Results In total, 111 out of 125 healthy students (70 females; mean age = 22.68 ± 2.6 years; mean screen time = 276 ± 115.1 min/day) were randomly assigned to intervention—( n  = 58; 3 weeks of screen time reduction to ≤ 2 h/day) or control group ( n  = 53). Although no differences were observed at baseline (t0), significant post-intervention (t1) effects of small to medium size were observed on well-being (η 2  = .053), depressive symptoms (η 2  = .109), sleep quality (η 2  = .048), and stress (η 2  = .085). Significant group differences ( p  ≤ .05) were found post-intervention (t1) for depressive symptoms ( Mean Difference ( MD)  = 2.11, Standard Error ( SE)  = 0.63, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [0.87, 3.36]), sleep quality ( MD  = 2.59, SE  = 0.97, 95% CI [0.66, 4.51]), well-being ( MD  = -1.54, SE  = 0.68, 95% CI [.-2.89, -0.18]), and stress ( MD  = 6.91, SE  = 3.48, 95% CI [0.01, 13.81]). Screen time increased rapidly after the intervention and at follow-up the values were once again approaching the initial level. Conclusions The study highlights mental health improvements through smartphone screen time reduction. Three weeks of screen time reduction showed small to medium effect sizes on depressive symptoms, stress, sleep quality, and well-being. The results suggest a causal relationship, rather than a merely correlative one, between daily smartphone screen time and mental health. Trial registration The study was preregistered on Open Science Framework (trial registration number: A9K76) on November 8, 2023.

The use of digital technologies is inevitable in modern society, but their overuse is a problem that is worthy of public attention. This study explored the personality traits that cause proneness to excessive screen time, applying latent profile analysis to build personality profiles using the Big Five personality traits and assessing the psychological entitlement of 4,874 Chinese adolescents. We also constructed parallel mediation models to examine the mediating effect of psychological capital and life stress between different personality profiles and screentime duration. We identified three unique personality profiles, which showed that adolescents with more sociable and outgoing personality traits reported shorter daily screen times. Moreover, psychological capital mediated the link between personality profiles and screen time, although the mediating effect of life stress was nonsignificant. Our findings have implications for the formulation of target-specific interventions to reduce the daily screen time of adolescents and promote their overall well-being.

INTRODUCTION Associations between television/computer use and dementia in socially inactive older adults remain unclear, and optimal limits are unknown. METHODS We followed 89,671 dementia‐free, socially inactive adults aged ≥55 from UK Biobank for a mean of 12.2 years. Adjusted Cox models assessed associations with incident all‐cause dementia and subtypes. RESULTS Computer use ≤2.4 h/day was associated with lower all‐cause dementia risk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82–0.94), whereas higher use increased risk (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05–1.34); patterns were similar for Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. Television viewing showed no association below 2.06 h/day but higher risk thereafter (HR 1.17; 95% CI 1.03–1.32), with a roughly linear increase for vascular dementia. Heavy computer use in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ‐ε4 homozygotes and higher television viewing in adults < 65 were more harmful. DISCUSSION In socially inactive older adults, moderate computer use may be protective, whereas higher computer use and television viewing are linked to increased dementia risk. Highlights Among socially inactive older adults, computer use showed a J‐shaped association with all‐cause dementia: up to about 2.4 h/day was associated with lower risk, whereas higher use was associated with increased risk. The J‐shaped pattern extended to Alzheimer's disease with an inflection near 2.4 h/day and to vascular dementia with an inflection near 2.2 h/day, while no association was observed for frontotemporal dementia. Television viewing below about 2.1 h/day was not associated with higher all‐cause dementia risk, but risk increased at higher viewing times. Television viewing showed a roughly linear increase in vascular dementia risk and an apparent reduction in Alzheimer's disease risk that is likely spurious and should be interpreted with caution. Risk varied by subgroup: heavy computer use was particularly harmful among apolipoprotein E (APOE) ‐ε4 homozygotes, and higher television time was more detrimental in adults younger than 65 years.

Background The prominence of sedentary behavior research in health science has grown rapidly. With this growth there is increasing urgency for clear, common and accepted terminology and definitions. Such standardization is difficult to achieve, especially across multi-disciplinary researchers, practitioners, and industries. The Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN) undertook a Terminology Consensus Project to address this need. Method First, a literature review was completed to identify key terms in sedentary behavior research. These key terms were then reviewed and modified by a Steering Committee formed by SBRN. Next, SBRN members were invited to contribute to this project and interested participants reviewed and provided feedback on the proposed list of terms and draft definitions through an online survey. Finally, a conceptual model and consensus definitions (including caveats and examples for all age groups and functional abilities) were finalized based on the feedback received from the 87 SBRN member participants who responded to the original invitation and survey. Results Consensus definitions for the terms physical inactivity, stationary behavior, sedentary behavior, standing, screen time, non-screen-based sedentary time, sitting, reclining, lying, sedentary behavior pattern, as well as how the terms bouts, breaks, and interruptions should be used in this context are provided. Conclusion It is hoped that the definitions resulting from this comprehensive, transparent, and broad-based participatory process will result in standardized terminology that is widely supported and adopted, thereby advancing future research, interventions, policies, and practices related to sedentary behaviors.

Background Interventions targeting reduce screen time in adolescents are urgently needed, mainly in low and middle-income countries because of the lack of evidence. Thus, the aims of the study were to examine the effect of a cluster-randomized controlled trial on screen time (ST) devices among Brazilian adolescents and to identify possible moderators. Methods Movimente was a multicomponent school-based intervention that was performed in 2017 and consisted of teacher training, education curriculum, and environmental improvements. Baseline and post-intervention assessments (over one academic year) were conducted with students aged 10–16 years at baseline (baseline n  = 921, [ n  = 538 intervention group; n  = 383 control group]). A self-report questionnaire was used to measure daily minutes of device specific screen time (TV, computer, video games and smartphone) and demographic variables. Linear mixed models were used to examine intervention effects and an exploratory moderation analysis (sex, grade and socioeconomic status) was performed. Results The intervention had no significant effects on TV time (β = − 6.4, 95% CI: − 6.1;13.4), game time (β = − 8.2, 95% CI: − 7.2;10.8), computer time (β = 1.1, 95% CI: − 6.3;18.5), smartphone time (β = − 10.2, 95% CI: − 32.5;12.1), screen time (β = − 12.8, 95% CI: − 50.5;24.8), meeting screen time guidelines (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 0.65,2.57) and meeting screen time guidelines with smartphone (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.37,7.40). There was a significant intervention effect on reducing TV time (β = − 37.1, 95% CI: − 73.0, − 1.3) among 8th grade students only. Conclusions The Movimente intervention was effective only for TV time among 8th grade students. Understanding how school-based interventions can improve adolescents’ device specific screen time across age groups is needed. Future strategies should cover all screen-based devices. Further, there is a need for more studies in low- and-middle income countries to assist in the development of effective strategies. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02944318 (25/10/2016).

Background There is limited and conflicting evidence for associations between use of screen-based technology and anxiety and depression in young people. We examined associations between screen time measured at 16 years and anxiety and depression at 18. Methods Participants ( n  = 14,665; complete cases n =  1869) were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK-based prospective cohort study. We assessed associations between various types of screen time (watching television, using a computer, and texting, all measured via questionnaire at 16y), both on weekdays and at weekends, and anxiety and depression (measured via the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule at 18y). Using ordinal logistic regression, we adjusted for multiple confounders, particularly focussing on activities that might have been replaced by screen time (for example exercising or playing outdoors). Results More time spent using a computer on weekdays was associated with a small increased risk of anxiety (OR for 1–2 h = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.35; OR for 3+ hours = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.55, both compared to < 1 h, p for linear trend = 0.003). We found a similar association between computer use at weekends and anxiety (OR for 1–2 h = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.46; OR for 3+ hours = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.48, p for linear trend = 0.03). Greater time spent using a computer on weekend days only was associated with a small increased risk in depression (OR for 1–2 h = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.35; OR for 3+ hours = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.65, p for linear trend = 0.003). Adjusting for time spent alone attenuated effects for anxiety but not depression. There was little evidence for associations with texting or watching television. Conclusions We found associations between increased screen time, particularly computer use, and a small increased risk of anxiety and depression. Time spent alone was found to attenuate some associations, and further research should explore this.

Background: Myopia is a public health problem, with estimations that 50% of the world population will be myopic by 2050. Some environmental factors, such as time spent outdoors, doing near work, and using digital devices, influence the development of myopia in children. Home confinement in Spain has increased these risk factors, so this study aims to investigate the impact of home confinement during the COVID-19 outbreak in the vision of school-aged children; Methods: A cross-sectional study in children between 5 and 7 years old that completed a visual screening and a questionnaire about their lifestyles at opticians in Spain in September and October of 2019 and 2020. Statistical analysis to compare lifestyles pre and post confinement, and vision in 2020 versus a similar cohort examined at the same opticians in 2019, was conducted; Results: Spanish children spent less time outdoors and more time doing near work in 2020 than in 2019 (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant decrease of the spherical equivalent (mean ± standard deviation; 0.66 ± 2.03 D in 2019 vs. 0.48 ± 1.81 D in 2020; p ≤ 0.001); Conclusions: Lifestyles of Spanish children changed during the home confinement at the beginning of 2020. Together with changes in their lifestyles, spherical equivalents have decreased, which implies higher figures of myopia for children aged between 5 and 7.

Careless and insufficient effort responding (C/IER) poses a major threat to the quality of large-scale survey data. Traditional indicator-based procedures for its detection are limited in that they are only sensitive to specific types of C/IER behavior, such as straight lining or rapid responding, rely on arbitrary threshold settings, and do not allow taking the uncertainty of C/IER classification into account. Overcoming these limitations, we develop a two-step screen-time-based weighting procedure for computer-administered surveys. The procedure allows considering the uncertainty in C/IER identification, is agnostic towards the specific types of C/IE response patterns, and can feasibly be integrated with common analysis workflows for large-scale survey data. In Step 1, we draw on mixture modeling to identify subcomponents of log screen time distributions presumably stemming from C/IER. In Step 2, the analysis model of choice is applied to item response data, with respondents’ posterior class probabilities being employed to downweigh response patterns according to their probability of stemming from C/IER. We illustrate the approach on a sample of more than 400,000 respondents being administered 48 scales of the PISA 2018 background questionnaire. We gather supporting validity evidence by investigating relationships between C/IER proportions and screen characteristics that entail higher cognitive burden, such as screen position and text length, relating identified C/IER proportions to other indicators of C/IER as well as by investigating rank-order consistency in C/IER behavior across screens. Finally, in a re-analysis of the PISA 2018 background questionnaire data, we investigate the impact of the C/IER adjustments on country-level comparisons.

The primary purposes of this study were to compare (a) physical activity participation, screen-time habits, obesity, and (b) reported reasons for lack of participation in sport, between a nationally representative sample of Irish children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participation in moderate to vigorous activity, light activity, and sports was significantly lower among the group with ASD. On examination of screen time variables, no significant differences were seen between groups. However, time spent watching TV was higher among children with ASD. Overweight or obese status was more prevalent among the group with ASD (34.4 vs. 24.7 %). The findings are discussed in relation to international statistics on youth physical activity, screen-time, and weight status, and recommendations are provided for future research.