Physical activity, screen time and subjective well-being among children

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Subjective well-being (SWB) in children encompasses cognitive and affective components.
• Understanding the influence of lifestyle factors like physical activity and screen time on SWB is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of physical activity and screen time on life satisfaction (LS), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) in children.
• To explore how these behaviors interact to influence children's subjective well-being.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 1,540 children aged 8-12 years.
• Validated questionnaires assessed life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, physical activity, and screen time.
• Statistical analysis to compare outcomes based on reported activity and screen time levels.

Main Results:

• Children engaging in physical activity 6+ days/week reported higher LS and PA than those active 3 days/week or less.
• Children with ≤2 hours/day of screen time reported lower NA than those with ≥4 hours/day.
• Meeting physical activity guidelines correlated with higher LS and PA, even with high screen time; excessive screen time was linked to higher NA independently.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity positively influences children's feelings and life satisfaction.
• Screen time, particularly excessive amounts, can negatively affect children's mood, even in active children.
• Interventions should consider both physical activity and screen time for comprehensive improvements in children's well-being.