Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background Longitudinal evidence is lacking on the interplay between lifestyle behaviors and depressive symptoms, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the changes in physical activity and recreational screen time during the pandemic, along with their r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00705-3 |
| _version_ | 1797233740960759808 |
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| author | Yujie Liu Erliang Zhang Huilun Li Xin Ge Fan Hu Yong Cai Mi Xiang |
| author_facet | Yujie Liu Erliang Zhang Huilun Li Xin Ge Fan Hu Yong Cai Mi Xiang |
| author_sort | Yujie Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Longitudinal evidence is lacking on the interplay between lifestyle behaviors and depressive symptoms, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the changes in physical activity and recreational screen time during the pandemic, along with their reciprocal associations with depressive symptoms among children and adolescents. Methods The public health emergency due to the pandemic started in January 2023 and lasted for two months in Shanghai, China. A three-wave longitudinal study was conducted among 1,666 children and adolescents (6–18 years) in January, March, and July 2023. Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were constructed to examine the bidirectional associations between physical activity and recreational screen time with depressive symptoms. Results Children and adolescents experienced a significant decrease in MVPA and a substantial increase in recreational screen time during the pandemic, which failed to return to pre-pandemic levels post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic MVPA was negatively associated with subsequent depressive symptoms (β = -0.147). Conversely, pre-pandemic depressive symptoms were positively associated with subsequent recreational screen time (β = 0.085), which in turn predicted heightened post-pandemic depressive symptoms (β = 0.076). When stratified by age, significant associations were found in adolescents but not children. Conclusions Sustained unhealthy changes in physical activity and recreational screen time were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic among children and adolescents. This study elucidates a potential reciprocal relationship between lifestyle behaviors and mental well-being. Effective interventions are emphasized to counter the negative impacts of insufficient physical activity and excessive screen use on the mental health of children and adolescents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:40:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ee04856e2534c7fad53df5c0e081db2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:20:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ee04856e2534c7fad53df5c0e081db22024-03-31T11:10:45ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002024-01-0118111210.1186/s13034-024-00705-3Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemicYujie Liu0Erliang Zhang1Huilun Li2Xin Ge3Fan Hu4Yong Cai5Mi Xiang6Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityHainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityPublic Health department, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineHainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityAbstract Background Longitudinal evidence is lacking on the interplay between lifestyle behaviors and depressive symptoms, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the changes in physical activity and recreational screen time during the pandemic, along with their reciprocal associations with depressive symptoms among children and adolescents. Methods The public health emergency due to the pandemic started in January 2023 and lasted for two months in Shanghai, China. A three-wave longitudinal study was conducted among 1,666 children and adolescents (6–18 years) in January, March, and July 2023. Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were constructed to examine the bidirectional associations between physical activity and recreational screen time with depressive symptoms. Results Children and adolescents experienced a significant decrease in MVPA and a substantial increase in recreational screen time during the pandemic, which failed to return to pre-pandemic levels post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic MVPA was negatively associated with subsequent depressive symptoms (β = -0.147). Conversely, pre-pandemic depressive symptoms were positively associated with subsequent recreational screen time (β = 0.085), which in turn predicted heightened post-pandemic depressive symptoms (β = 0.076). When stratified by age, significant associations were found in adolescents but not children. Conclusions Sustained unhealthy changes in physical activity and recreational screen time were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic among children and adolescents. This study elucidates a potential reciprocal relationship between lifestyle behaviors and mental well-being. Effective interventions are emphasized to counter the negative impacts of insufficient physical activity and excessive screen use on the mental health of children and adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00705-3Children and adolescentsPhysical activityRecreational screen timeDepressive symptoms |
| spellingShingle | Yujie Liu Erliang Zhang Huilun Li Xin Ge Fan Hu Yong Cai Mi Xiang Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Children and adolescents Physical activity Recreational screen time Depressive symptoms |
| title | Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Physical activity, recreational screen time, and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: a three-wave cross-lagged study during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | physical activity recreational screen time and depressive symptoms among chinese children and adolescents a three wave cross lagged study during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Children and adolescents Physical activity Recreational screen time Depressive symptoms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00705-3 |
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