Davy Vancampfort1, Garcia Ashdown-Franks2, Lee Smith3, Joseph Firth4, Tine Van Damme5, Lore Christiaansen6, Brendon Stubbs7, Ai Koyanagi8. 1. KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium. Electronic address: davy.vancampfort@kuleuven.be. 2. Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom; Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 4. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia; Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 5. KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium. 6. KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Centre of Contextual Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium. 7. Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. 8. Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Loneliness is widespread in adolescents and associated with a myriad of adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Exploring variables associated with loneliness is important for the development of targeted interventions. The aim of the current study was to explore associations between leisure-time sedentary behavior (LTSB) and loneliness in adolescents from 52 low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey were analyzed. Data on past 12-month self-perceived loneliness and LTSB were collected. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the associations. RESULTS: Among 148,045 adolescents (mean age 13.7± SD 1.0 years; 48.5% female), the prevalence of loneliness increased from 8.7% among those with 1-2 h/day of LTSB to 17.5% among those spending >8 h/day sedentary. Compared to those who engage in less than 1 h of LTSB per day, the OR (95%CI) of loneliness for 1-2 h/day, 3-4 h/day, 5-8 h/day and >8 h/day were 1.00 (0.91-1.11), 1.29 (1.15-1.45), 1.37 (1.17-1.61), and 1.66 (1.39-1.99), respectively. LIMITATIONS: The study is cross-sectional, therefore the directionality of the relationships cannot be deduced. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that LTSB is associated with increased odds for feeling lonely in adolescence. Future longitudinal data are required to confirm/refute the findings to inform public health campaigns.
BACKGROUND: Loneliness is widespread in adolescents and associated with a myriad of adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Exploring variables associated with loneliness is important for the development of targeted interventions. The aim of the current study was to explore associations between leisure-time sedentary behavior (LTSB) and loneliness in adolescents from 52 low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey were analyzed. Data on past 12-month self-perceived loneliness and LTSB were collected. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the associations. RESULTS: Among 148,045 adolescents (mean age 13.7± SD 1.0 years; 48.5% female), the prevalence of loneliness increased from 8.7% among those with 1-2 h/day of LTSB to 17.5% among those spending >8 h/day sedentary. Compared to those who engage in less than 1 h of LTSB per day, the OR (95%CI) of loneliness for 1-2 h/day, 3-4 h/day, 5-8 h/day and >8 h/day were 1.00 (0.91-1.11), 1.29 (1.15-1.45), 1.37 (1.17-1.61), and 1.66 (1.39-1.99), respectively. LIMITATIONS: The study is cross-sectional, therefore the directionality of the relationships cannot be deduced. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that LTSB is associated with increased odds for feeling lonely in adolescence. Future longitudinal data are required to confirm/refute the findings to inform public health campaigns.
Authors: Davy Vancampfort; Tine Van Damme; Joseph Firth; Mats Hallgren; Lee Smith; Brendon Stubbs; Simon Rosenbaum; Ai Koyanagi Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-11-14 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Gerhard Ruedl; Nikolaus Greier; Martin Niedermeier; Markus Posch; Vera Prünster; Martin Faulhaber; Martin Burtscher Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-10-25 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Ryan D Burns; Yang Bai; Christopher D Pfledderer; Timothy A Brusseau; Wonwoo Byun Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-20 Impact factor: 3.390