The impact of screen time and green time on mental health in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the life of children and adolescents in an unpredecented way, limiting, among others, everyday activities with direct social contacts to mitigate the spread of the virus. These limitations have been associated with worse mental health. Yet, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In the present study, we focused on two activities that have been likely affected by mitigation measures: screen time and green time. We investigated how screen time and green time influenced each during the pandemic, how they affected children’s and adolescents' mental health, and which role socio-demographic characteristics have in predicting screen time, green time, and mental health. We used data collected over between autumn 2020 and spring 2021 from 844 participants aged 5 to 19 of a population-based, prospective cohort study in Ticino, Switzerland. We analyzed the data using an extended version of the Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model with time-invariant socio-demographic covariates and mental health as outcome. Results showed that, at the between-person level, screen time was a risk factor and green time a protective factor of mental health. However, within-person deviations of screen time and green time during the pandemic did not consistently predict mental health. Furthermore, they did not influence each other over time. Gender, age, socio-economic background, Body Mass Index and the availability of green space nearby all influenced stable measures of green time and screen time (i.e., random intercepts). Our results highlight the need for targeted actions to promote green time and raise awareness about the detrimental effect of screen time on children’s and adolescents’ mental health.

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Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Disorders in a National Survey of Iranian Children and Adolescents

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.18502/ijps.v14i1.418 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammad Reza Mohammadi ◽

Nastaran Ahmadi ◽

Ali Khaleghi ◽

Seyed Ali Mostafavi ◽

Koorosh Kamali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Psychiatric Disorder ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Based ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Iranian Children ◽

The Impact

Objective: Considering the impact of rapid sociocultural, political, and economical changes on societies and families, population-based surveys of mental disorders in different communities are needed to describe the magnitude of mental health problems and their disabling effects at the individual, familial, and societal levels. Method: A population-based cross sectional survey (IRCAP project) of 30 532 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years was conducted in all provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected by 250 clinical psychologists trained to use the validated Persian version of the semi-structured diagnostic interview Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-PL (K-SADS-PL). Results: In this national epidemiological survey, 6209 out of 30 532 (22.31%) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. The anxiety disorders (14.13%) and behavioral disorders (8.3%) had the highest prevalence, while eating disorders (0.13%) and psychotic symptoms (0.26%) had the lowest. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly lower in girls (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.80-0.90), in those living in the rural area (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73-0.87), in those aged 15-18 years (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.99), as well as that was significantly higher in those who had a parent suffering from mental disorders (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.63-2.36 for mother and OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.66 for father) or physical illness (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17-1.35 for mother and OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10-1.28 for father). Conclusion: About one fifth of Iranian children and adolescents suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder. Therefore, we should give a greater priority to promoting mental health and public health, provide more accessible services and trainings, and reduce barriers to accessing existing services.

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The Impact of Excessive WeChat Use on Mental Health Among Medical Students: A Representative Nationwide Population-Based Study in China

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3422997 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Weifang Zhang ◽

Tingzhong Yang ◽

Joan L. Bottorff ◽

Sihui Peng

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Medical Students ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

The Impact

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Reply to Kersting et al. Comment on “Wunsch et al. The Impact of COVID-19 on the Interrelation of Physical Activity, Screen Time and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents in Germany: Results of the Motorik-Modul Study. Children 2021, 8, 98”

Children ◽

10.3390/children8070533 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 533

Author(s):

Kathrin Wunsch ◽

Carina Nigg ◽

Claudia Niessner ◽

Steffen C. E. Schmidt ◽

Doris Oriwol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Screen Time ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

In reply to the comment of Kersting et al [...]

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The Association between Physical Activity and Selected Parameters of Psychological Status and Dementia in Older Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7549

Author(s):

Angelika Cisek-Woźniak ◽

Kinga Mruczyk ◽

Rafał W. Wójciak

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Protective Factor ◽

The Elderly ◽

Regular Physical Activity ◽

Psychological Status ◽

The Impact

Physical activity has an unquestionable impact on broadly understood human health. One interesting issue related to this is the importance of movement on mental health and cognitive functioning. Research shows that regular physical activity improves the cognitive functioning of adults and people with mental disorders. Regular physical activity can be an important and powerful protective factor in cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly, and exercise is an important non-pharmacological treatment for mild cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to present the impact of physical activity on selected cognitive functions in physically active women over 60 years of age. The research was carried out in a group of 110 generally healthy women from the area of western Poland over 60 years of age, who were divided into four groups based on the intensity of their physical activity. A pedometer (sport watch) and a physical activity diary were used to measure physical activity. Body Mass Index was assessed. Selected cognitive functions were assessed using the MMSE test, motor and psychomotor skills were measured, and Luria’s auditory memory test and recall test, a clock drawing test, and a GDS test were performed. There were statistically significant relationships between the level of physical activity and the effectiveness of cognitive processes. These results show that about 5000 steps a day is enough to see a positive effect on the mental health and cognitive functioning of this group of the elderly population. The women had an average BMI of 28.1 ± 4.7. BMI, indicating an overweight condition (over 30 kg/m2), was observed in 31% of women. The results of this study lead the authors to conclude that physical activity positively influences cognitive function and can be recommended for all seniors who do not have other serious comorbidities that would prevent them from playing sports.

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Pre-Existing Inequality: The Impact of COVID-19 on Medicare Home Health Beneficiaries

Home Health Care Management & Practice ◽

10.1177/1084822321992380 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 130-136

Author(s):

William Cabin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

New York ◽

Home Care ◽

Population Based ◽

Home Health ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Medicare Population ◽

Home Health Agencies ◽

The Impact

There is significant data on the adverse impact of COVID-19 on persons who were poor, minorities, had compromised physical or mental health, or other vulnerabilities prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant portion of the overall Medicare population has such vulnerabilities. The Medicare home health beneficiary population is even more vulnerable than the overall Medicare population based on gender, race, income level, living alone status, and number of chronic conditions. A literature review indicates there is only 1 study on the impact of COVID-19 in Medicare home health on home care workers and none on the impact on home health beneficiaries. The current study is a qualitative study based on interviews of a convenience sample of 48 home care nurses from 9 different home health agencies in New York City between April 1 and August 31, 2020. Six major themes emerged: need for social service supports increased; loneliness and depression increased among patients; physical and mental health conditions became exacerbated; substance use and abuse increased; evidence of domestic violence against patients increased; and there was a limited amount of staff and equipment to care for patients.

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Are COVID-19 mitigation measures reducing preterm birth rate in China?

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006359 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (8) ◽

pp. e006359

Author(s):

Zheng Bian ◽

Xiaoxian Qu ◽

Hao Ying ◽

Xiaohua Liu

Keyword(s):

Preterm Birth ◽

Birth Rate ◽

Time Window ◽

Time Windows ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Late Preterm Birth ◽

Child Morbidity ◽

Preterm Birth Rate ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

The Impact

ObjectivePreterm birth is the leading cause of child morbidity and mortality globally. We aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in China on 23 January 2020 on the incidence of preterm birth in our institution.DesignLogistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between the national COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in China and the incidence of preterm birth.SettingShanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai China.ParticipantsAll singleton deliveries abstracted from electronic medical record between 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020.Main outcome measuresPreterm birth rate.ResultsData on 164 107 singleton deliveries were available. COVID-19 mitigation measures were consistently associated with significant reductions in preterm birth in the 2-month, 3-month, 4-month, 5-month time windows after implementation (+2 months, OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.94; +3 months, OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.94; +4 months, OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.92; +5 months, OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.93). These reductions in preterm birth were obvious across various degrees of prematurity, but were statistically significant only in moderate-to-late preterm birth (32 complete weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days) subgroup. The preterm birth difference disappeared gradually after various restrictions were removed (7th–12th month of 2020, OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.11). There was no difference in stillbirth rate across the study time window.ConclusionSubstantial decreases in preterm birth rates were observed following implementation of the national COVID-19 mitigation measures in China. Further study is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms associated with this observation.

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The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of Canadian children and youth

FACETS ◽

10.1139/facets-2021-0078 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 1628-1648

Author(s):

Tracy Vaillancourt ◽

Peter Szatmari ◽

Katholiki Georgiades ◽

Amanda Krygsman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Problems ◽

Stepped Care ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Coordinated Care ◽

Significant Impairment ◽

The Impact

Children and youth flourish in environments that are predictable, safe, and structured. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted these protective factors making it difficult for children and youth to adapt and thrive. Pandemic-related school closures, family stress, and trauma have led to increases in mental health problems in some children and youth, an area of health that was already in crisis well before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Because mental health problems early in life are associated with significant impairment across family, social, and academic domains, immediate measures are needed to mitigate the potential for long-term sequalae. Now more than ever, Canada needs a national mental health strategy that is delivered in the context in which children and youth are most easily accessible—schools. This strategy should provide coordinated care across sectors in a stepped care framework and across a full continuum of mental health supports spanning promotion, prevention, early intervention, and treatment. In parallel, we must invest in a comprehensive population-based follow-up of Statistics Canada’s Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth so that accurate information about how the pandemic is affecting all Canadian children and youth can be obtained. It is time the Canadian government prioritizes the mental health of children and youth in its management of the pandemic and beyond.

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Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17186469 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (18) ◽

pp. 6469 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jacob Meyer ◽

Cillian McDowell ◽

Jeni Lansing ◽

Cassandra Brower ◽

Lee Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Screen Time ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Societal Changes ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic altered many facets of life. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-related public health guidelines on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, mental health, and their interrelations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 3052 US adults 3–8 April 2020 (from all 50 states). Participants self-reported pre- and post-COVID-19 levels of moderate and vigorous PA, sitting, and screen time. Currently-followed public health guidelines, stress, loneliness, positive mental health (PMH), social connectedness, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were self-reported. Participants were grouped by meeting US PA guidelines, reporting ≥8 h/day of sitting, or ≥8 h/day of screen time, pre- and post-COVID-19. Overall, 62% of participants were female, with age ranging from 18–24 (16.6% of sample) to 75+ (9.3%). Self-reported PA was lower post-COVID among participants reporting being previously active (mean change: −32.3% [95% CI: −36.3%, −28.1%]) but largely unchanged among previously inactive participants (+2.3% [−3.5%, +8.1%]). No longer meeting PA guidelines and increased screen time were associated with worse depression, loneliness, stress, and PMH (p < 0.001). Self-isolation/quarantine was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to social distancing (p < 0.001). Maintaining and enhancing physical activity participation and limiting screen time increases during abrupt societal changes may mitigate the mental health consequences.

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Community Support as a Moderator of Postdisaster Mental Health Symptoms in Urban and Nonurban Communities

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2013.74 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 443-451 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jenny S. West ◽

Matthew Price ◽

Kirstin Stauffacher Gros ◽

Kenneth J. Ruggiero

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Community Support ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Population Based ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Interpersonal Effects ◽

Disaster Exposure

AbstractObjectiveWe examined the association between disaster exposure, community support, and mental health outcomes in urban and nonurban participants of Galveston and Chambers counties after Hurricane Ike. The moderating effect of community support was evaluated as a protective factor relative to postdisaster mental health.MethodsA representative population-based sample of 157 urban and 714 nonurban adults were interviewed 12 to 17 months after the hurricane about their mental health functioning, disaster exposure, and perceptions of community support.ResultsA series of multiple regressions demonstrated that disaster exposure was associated with mental health outcomes for both groups. The strength of the association varied across population samples.Community support moderated the association between interpersonal effects of the disaster and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression outcomes in nonurban participants and the association between property damage and PTSD in urban participants.ConclusionsCommunity support played a larger role in reducing PTSD and depression symptoms associated with the interpersonal effects of a disaster in the nonurban sample only. Communities may play a more beneficial role in the recovery process in nonurban areas that have elevated levels of injury or death attributed to a disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1–9)

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