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BMC Psychiatry
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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Coping Skills | Research

Screen time trajectories and psychosocial well-being among Chinese adolescents: a longitudinal study

Authors: Wanxin Wang, Weiqing Jiang, Liwan Zhu, Ciyong Lu, Yanzhi Li, Wenjian Lai, Lan Guo

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

While the association between screen time (ST) and psychosocial well-being has been extensively examined, limited studies have investigated the dynamic patterns of ST, and their impact on subsequent psychosocial well-being among adolescents. Therefore, this longitudinal study aimed to examine the association between ST trajectories and the subsequent psychosocial well-being among Chinese adolescents.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescents’ Mental and Behavioral Well-being Research (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022032). The final analysis included 1480 participants who completed baseline and two follow-up surveys. Standardized measures were employed to assess ST and multiple psychosocial well-being, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, externalizing problems, and coping style. Group-based trajectory modeling and generalized linear mixed models were performed.

Results

Over the two-year follow-up period, two distinct ST trajectories emerged: continued high (298 [20.1%]) and continued low (1182 [79.9%]). Compared with those in the continued low ST group, adolescents in the continued high group exhibited a higher likelihood of presenting depressive symptoms (β = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.43 ~ 1.50), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.05 ~ 0.53), and emotional problems (β = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.22 ~ 0.48), and were less likely to demonstrate prosocial behavior or employ positive coping style. The stratified analysis demonstrated that the aforementioned associations only existed among female adolescents.

Conclusions

Persistent high exposure to ST was associated with an increased odds of emotional problems and a decreased probability of engaging in prosocial behavior and positive coping style, with particularly noteworthy effects observed among female adolescents. These findings underscore the importance of reducing ST exposure to improve the psychological well-being of adolescents.
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Metadata
Title
Screen time trajectories and psychosocial well-being among Chinese adolescents: a longitudinal study
Authors
Wanxin Wang
Weiqing Jiang
Liwan Zhu
Ciyong Lu
Yanzhi Li
Wenjian Lai
Lan Guo
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Coping Skills
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06329-3

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