Urban Adolescents’ Physical Activity Experience, Physical Activity Levels, and Use of Screen-Based Media during Leisure Time: A Structural Model

Abstract

There is limited understanding of the relationship between physical activity and use of screen-based media, two important behaviors associated with adolescents’ health outcomes. To understand this relationship, researchers may need to consider not only physical activity level but also physical activity experience (i.e., affective experience obtained from doing physical activity). Using a sample predominantly consisting of African and Latino American urban adolescents, this study examined the interrelationships between physical activity experience, physical activity level, and use of screen-based media during leisure time. Data collected using self-report, paper and pencil surveys was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results showed that physical activity experience was positively associated with physical activity level and had a direct negative relationship with use of non-active video games for males and a direct negative relationship with use of computer/Internet for both genders, after controlling for physical activity level. Physical activity level did not have a direct relationship with use of non-active video games or computer/Internet. However, physical activity level had a direct negative association with use of TV/movies. This study suggests that physical activity experience may play an important role in promoting physical activity and thwarting use of screen-based media among adolescents.

Leisure Activities of Healthy Children and Adolescents

“…Participants with higher screen times (especially regarding TV and using games consoles) were physically active and played outdoors less frequently than children with lower screen times. This is in good agreement with some previous studies [23,24,26], but contradicts other studies which did not find any associations between media use and physical activity [25,26,27]. Our results suggest that high media usage might displace more active leisure behavior and hinder children from spending time outdoors.…”

“…However, several studies also investigated inter-relations between different leisure activities, especially between media use and physical activity. There is some evidence that physical activity has a direct negative relationship to inactive media use, namely TV/movie use [23] and that very high levels of media use are associated with lower physical activity [24]. However, it was also observed that media use and physical activity coexist rather than compete, especially in boys [25,26,27].…”

Does exergaming drive future physical activity and sport intentions?

“…When using exergames, females may also feel less pressured to engage in PA (George et al, 2016). PA experience has positive associations with PA participation and negative associations with sedentary gaming (Xie et al, 2017). Gaming experience may not influence physiological parameters such as energy expenditure (White et al, 2011) but may predict players' enjoyment, which itself is mediated by the satisfaction of competence needs (Kazakova et al, 2014).…”

The Digital Media Environment and Cardiovascular Risk in Children

“…34 Another study from the United States, which involved 305 predominantly African American or Latino adolescents showed no evidence of a relationship between nonactive video games or computer use and physical activity. 35 A very recent Canadian study of 719 children age 32-40 months showed no evidence of an association between screen time (all screen exposure) and physical activity (leisure and organized) in a typical week (Spearman r ¼ 0.07; P ¼ 0.18). 36 Inconsistent evidence for the displacement hypothesis suggests that physical activity might not be a strong contributor in the relationship between screen time and cardiovascular disease risk.…”

“…33 Other studies have not shown evidence for the displacement hypothesis. [34][35][36] One study from the United States of 6369 girls and 4487 boys showed that 1 hour per week more television viewing over the span of 1 year resulted in no substantive change in leisure-time moderate to vigorous physical activity (B ¼ 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02-0.04). 34 Another study from the United States, which involved 305 predominantly African American or Latino adolescents showed no evidence of a relationship between nonactive video games or computer use and physical activity.…”