Dataset Information

Associations between Problematic Smartphone Use, Unhealthy Behaviors, and Mental Health Status in Korean Adolescents: Based on Data from the 13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2017)

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We aimed to assess the associations between problematic smartphone use, unhealthy behaviors, and mental health status among adolescents.

Methods

The data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2017). From among the 62,276 adolescents who participated in this nationwide web-based survey, 54,603 (87.7%) who used smartphones were selected as the study population. Unhealthy behaviors included smoking, drinking, physical inactivity, skipping breakfast, and fast food consumption. For the examination of mental health status, we considered sleep disturbances, stress, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. The associations between problematic smartphone use, unhealthy behaviors, and mental health were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

More than four hours of use on weekdays (31.3%) and weekends (61.3%) and the use of smartphones for communication (46.9%) were associated with unhealthy behaviors and mental health problems. Furthermore, adolescents who experienced conflicts with family (22.3%) and friends (25.8%) and academic problems (3.4%) were likely to have health problems.

Conclusion

The results suggest that problematic smartphone use may disrupt adolescents’ health. Therefore, there is a need for prevention programs for problematic smartphone use at home and at school to improve adolescents’ health.

SUBMITTER: Kim H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8560339 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceDespite high use of smartphones among adolescents, little is known about the association of smartphone use with body image and related behaviors.ObjectiveTo examine the associations of duration of smartphone use and types of content most frequently accessed via smartphone with body image distortion and weight loss behaviors in adolescents.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study used data from the population-based Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey 2017. Participants comprised a nationally representative sample of 53 133 Korean adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. Data were collected from June 1 to July 18, 2017. The analysis was performed from February 7, 2020, to March 30, 2022.ExposuresSelf-reported duration of smartphone use (min/d) and types of content (educational or informational searches; chatting, messaging, or email; social networking services or forums; games; videos, movies, or music; webtoons or web novels; and shopping or other activities) most frequently accessed during smartphone use.Main outcomes and measuresBody image distortion (overperception of body weight), weight loss attempt, use of inappropriate weight loss strategies (skipping meals, eating only 1 food at a time, vomiting, or using laxatives), and healthy weight loss behaviors (muscle-strengthening and aerobic physical activity). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs, accounting for survey sampling and adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsAmong 53 133 participants, the mean (SD) age was 15.0 (1.8) years; 50.7% of participants were female, and 49.3% were male. After adjusting for types of content accessed, prolonged smartphone use (≥301 min/d) was positively associated with body image distortion (boys: OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07-1.28; girls: OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10-1.30) and inappropriate weight loss strategies (boys: OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.25-1.90; girls: OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 2.14-2.79) in both sexes compared with minimal smartphone use (1-120 min/d). After adjusting for duration of smartphone use, the use of smartphones mainly for videos, movies, or music (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.29), webtoons or web novels (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10-1.48), and games (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32) was positively associated with body image distortion in boys compared with the use of smartphones mainly for educational or informational content. Among boys, the use of smartphones mainly for chatting, messaging, or email was positively associated with muscle-strengthening activity (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.18-1.44) and aerobic physical activity (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.29-1.55), as was the use of smartphones mainly for social networking services or forums (muscle-strengthening activity: OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.42; aerobic physical activity: OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.15-1.43). Among girls, the use of smartphones mainly for chatting, messaging, or email was positively associated with weight loss attempts (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.19-1.51) and the use of inappropriate weight loss strategies (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.25-1.99), as was the use of smartphones mainly for social networking services or forums (weight loss attempts: OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.36; use of inappropriate weight loss strategies: OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.08-1.73).Conclusions and relevanceIn this cross-sectional study, both the duration of smartphone use and the types of content most frequently accessed via smartphone were associated with body image distortion and weight loss behaviors in adolescents. These findings suggest a need for the identification of strategies to help adolescents develop healthy smartphone use behaviors.