“Role of Physical Activity and Screen Time in Subjective Well-Being of Adolescents, A Cross-Sectional Study “
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background:
Adolescence is a crucial period characterized by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. It is vital to understand the factors that affect Subjective Well-Being (SWB) during this developmental stage. There are many factors that impact adolescents' well-being, with physical activity and screen time being significant contributors. While physical activity is associated with various health benefits, excessive screen time, particularly from screen-based activities such as television viewing, gaming, and social media, has raised concerns about its impact on well-being. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the relationship between physical activity, screen time, and Subjective Well-Being among adolescents.
Methods & materials:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 students aged 14-17 years at a private school in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. Validated questionnaires were used to collect data on physical activity, subjective well-being, and screen time. The Physical Activity Questionnaire-Adolescent (PAQ-A) was used to assess physical activity. Subjective well-being was assessed using two components: the cognitive component, which measured life satisfaction through the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the affective component, which measured positive and negative affect through the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule C8 (PANAS C8). Screen time was assessed by the duration of time spent on screen in hours per typical weekday.
Results:
The study found that a significant proportion (47%, n=94) of adolescents had high screen time exposure, which was defined as more than 2 hours per day. Furthermore, a majority (57.5%, n=115) reported low levels of physical activity. The study showed that adolescents who reported low screen time exposure and high physical activity had higher levels of life satisfaction and more positive affect. However, neither screen time exposure nor physical activity showed a significant association with Negative Affect
Conclusion:
Our study showed an association between physical activity and screen time with subjective well-being. Therefore, it is suggested that reducing screen time and increasing physical activity can positively impact adolescents' lives and increase their subjective well-being, thereby leading to a better overall quality of life.