Jianghong Liu1, Colin X Liu1, Tina Wu1, Bao-Peng Liu2, Cun-Xian Jia3, Xianchen Liu4. 1. School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. 2. Shandong University School of Public Health, Jinan, China. 3. Shandong University School of Public Health, Jinan, China. Electronic address: jiacunxian@sdu.edu.cn. 4. Shandong University School of Public Health, Jinan, China; South China Normal University School of Psychology, Guangzhou, China; Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: kelinresearch6@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prolonged screen time has negative impacts on health and well-being. This study examined the association between the duration of mobile phone use (DMPU) and depressive symptoms in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. METHODS: 11,831 adolescent students participated in the baseline Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort (SABHC) survey in Shandong, China in 2015. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure DMPU on weekdays and the weekend, sleep, mental health, and family environment. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) depression scales were used to assess depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 15.0 (SD = 1.5) and 51% were male. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased with prolonged DMPU. After adjusting for adolescent and family covariates, DMPU ≥ 2 h/day on weekdays (OR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.48-2.15) and ≥ 5 h/day on the weekend (OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.41-1.98) was associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms as assessed by CES-D. The DMPU-depression association was found to be partially mediated by short sleep duration or insomnia. Similar associations were observed for depression as assessed by YSR. STUDY LIMITATION: This is a cross-sectional survey. Mobile phone use and depressive symptoms were measured by self-report. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged mobile phone use of ≥ 2 h on weekdays and ≥ 5 h on the weekend is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. The association appears to be partially mediated by sleep disturbances.
BACKGROUND: Prolonged screen time has negative impacts on health and well-being. This study examined the association between the duration of mobile phone use (DMPU) and depressive symptoms in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. METHODS: 11,831 adolescent students participated in the baseline Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort (SABHC) survey in Shandong, China in 2015. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure DMPU on weekdays and the weekend, sleep, mental health, and family environment. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) depression scales were used to assess depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 15.0 (SD = 1.5) and 51% were male. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased with prolonged DMPU. After adjusting for adolescent and family covariates, DMPU ≥ 2 h/day on weekdays (OR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.48-2.15) and ≥ 5 h/day on the weekend (OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.41-1.98) was associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms as assessed by CES-D. The DMPU-depression association was found to be partially mediated by short sleep duration or insomnia. Similar associations were observed for depression as assessed by YSR. STUDY LIMITATION: This is a cross-sectional survey. Mobile phone use and depressive symptoms were measured by self-report. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged mobile phone use of ≥ 2 h on weekdays and ≥ 5 h on the weekend is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. The association appears to be partially mediated by sleep disturbances.
Authors: Steriani Elavsky; Jana Blahošová; Michaela Lebedíková; Michał Tkaczyk; Jaromír Plhák; Ondřej Sotolář; David Smahel; Martin Tancos Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2022-03-08