Prospective relationships of adolescents’ screen-based sedentary behaviour with depressive symptoms: the Millennium Cohort Study

Abstract

Background Frequent use of screen-based devices could be a modifiable risk factor for adolescent depression, but findings have been inconsistent and mostly from cross-sectional studies. We examined prospective associations of video gaming, social media, and internet use with depressive symptoms in adolescents. Methods A total of 11 341 adolescents from the Millennium Cohort Study, a representative, UK population-based. The main outcome was depressive symptoms from a Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (age 14). Exposures were frequency of video game, social media, and internet use (age 11). Physical activity (effect modifier) was measured by self-report. Results The fully adjusted models indicated that boys playing video games most days, at least once a week, and at least once a month at age 11 had lower depression scores at age 14 by 24.2% (IRR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.66–0.91), 25.1% (IRR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.62–0.90), and 31.2% (IRR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.57–0.83), compared with playing less than once a month/never. In girls, compared with less than once a month/never, using social media most days at age 11 was associated with 13% higher depression scores at age 14 (IRR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.05–1.22). We found some evidence of associations between using the internet most days and depressive symptoms compared with less than once a month/never in boys (IRR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.75–1.00). More frequent video game use was consistently associated with fewer depressive symptoms in boys with low physical activity, but not in those with high physical activity. Conclusions Different types of screen-time may have contrasting associations with depressive symptoms during adolescence. Initiatives to address adolescents’ screen-time may require targeted approaches.

Smartphone Use and Mental Health among Youth: It Is Time to Develop Smartphone-Specific Screen Time Guidelines

“…A study in Norway found that gaming use was associated with higher odds of symptoms of depression, although they used a 3 h cut-off compared with our 2 h cut-off and they did not investigate weekday versus weekend day differences [40]. On the other hand, similar to our findings, a meta-analysis (on all screen time) and a recent longitudinal study from the UK (on gaming specifically) reported that more frequent video gaming was associated with fewer depressive symptoms [41,42]. These findings highlight the need for more evidence directed at clarifying the relationship that gaming, and smartphone gaming, has (if any) with feelings of depression among youth both cross-sectionally and prospectively.…”

Impact on adolescent mental health of replacing screen-use with exercise: A prospective cohort study

“…This aligns with previous findings that mentally-active sedentary behaviours do not necessarily increase the risk of depressive symptoms in adults and may reduce risk in some cases (18)(19)(20)(21). Several recent studies in adolescents have found association between some screen time modalities (e.g., watching television or using social media) and the risk of depression, but not video gaming (13,22), which may even have protective associations with mental health (25)(26)(27).…”

“…Studies in adolescents have found that high social media, computer, or television use is associated with poorer mental health outcomes (13, [22][23][24], but not always video game use (13,22,25). Some studies have found protective associations between video gaming and mental health in adolescents (25)(26)(27). The factors underlying the relationship between screen time with mental health in adolescents can be complex (28,29), likely extend beyond the impacts of lower energy expenditure levels (30), and warrant a more nuanced investigation into different screen time modalities.…”

Electronic media use and symptoms of depression among adolescents in Norway

“…However, some studies reported no association between gaming and depressive symptoms [ 11 , 18 , 19 ]. Some other studies found a protective effect of video gaming on depression [ 36 ]. Moreover, using objective measures of video gaming a recent cross-sectional study found a positive relationship between video gaming and affective well-being [ 25 ].…”