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Changes in Screen Time Behaviors from Before (2019) to After (2022) the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Brazilian Adolescents
Bruno da Costa1, Marcus Lopes2, Gabrielli de Mello3
1Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (B da Costa), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Objective:
Compare prepandemic (2019) and postpandemic (2022) engagement in five screen-based activities (studying, working, watching videos, playing video games, and using social media/chat applications) among independent samples of Brazilian adolescents using a repeated cross-sectional design; and 2) Examine within-individual changes in these same screen-based activities over the same period using a repeated cross-sectional study with a nested cohort.
Methods:
Data were collected in 2019 and 2022, involving a total of 2008 adolescents who participated in the repeated cross-sectional study, with 333 forming a nested cohort sample. Zero-inflated multilevel gamma regression models and multilevel linear models were used to analyze the data.
Results:
In the repeated cross-sectional analysis, adolescents spent more minutes per day in 2022 versus 2019 for studying (+21.3 minutes; 95% CI: 11.0, 31.6), watching videos (+12.8 minutes; 95% CI: 1.1, 24.5), and playing video games (+22.9 minutes; 95% CI: 12.8, 33.1). The longitudinal analysis revealed significant average daily increases from 2019 to 2022 in studying (+53.8 minutes; 95% CI: 34.7, 72.9) and working (+130.2 minutes; 95% CI: 110.4, 149.9). For these same adolescents, significant decreases were observed for watching videos (-26.4 minutes; 95% CI: -48.0, -4.9) and playing video games (-28.6 minutes; 95% CI: -46.2, -11.8). Social media use remained stable.
Conclusions:
Screen time (ST) among Brazilian adolescents was higher in 2022 compared to 2019, with increases in studying, working, watching videos, and playing video games. Longitudinal data indicated a shift from recreational ST to educational and work-related ST. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to promote balanced ST and mitigate potential negative health impacts.
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