摘要：Objectives. We investigated the relationship between selected types of screen-based media (SBM) use, total SBM use, sports participation, and markers of well-being. Methods. Data came from the youth panel (n = 4899) of Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, conducted in 2009. Well-being was measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and markers of happiness in different life domains. Results. The majority of young people used multiple types of SBM for at least 1 hour per day; only 30% participated in sports every day. Overall, young people with heavy SBM use were less happy than moderate users and more likely to have socioemotional difficulties. Chatting on social networking Web sites and game console use were associated with higher odds of socioemotional problems. Higher total SBM use was associated with lower odds of happiness and higher odds of socioemotional difficulties. Greater participation in sports was associated with higher odds of happiness and lower odds of socioemotional difficulties. Conclusions. Further longitudinal research could inform future interventions to reduce sedentary behavior and encourage healthy lifestyles among young people. Adolescence is a critical period for the development and establishment of behaviors and attitudes that continue into adult life. 1 Active behaviors can help to reduce poor health in later years, and sedentary behaviors may increase the risk of poor health. The association between sedentary behavior and markers of physical health is well established, but the relationship between sedentary behaviors and markers of mental well-being in young people has not been as extensively explored. Studies have found that more screen-based media (SBM) use was associated with lower likelihood of contentedness, poorer self-image, and physical aggression. 2–4 However, these studies did not take into account Internet use. Young people often use social networking Web sites as venues for socializing and communicating, 5 and research has found positive associations between depressive symptoms and social networking. 5–7 Many mechanisms through which SBM use and markers of well-being may influence each other have been hypothesized. For example, SBM use has been associated with low self-esteem, 8,9 poor academic performance, 8,9 and obesity and decreased fitness. 9,10 These in turn could lead to decreased well-being. In addition, the content of SBM and reasons for use may have indirect effects on well-being. For example, increased violence and aggression, 9 substance use, 9 or sexual behaviour 9 may lead to lower levels of well-being. Alternatively, moderate use of SBM for information gathering or social interaction may enhance well-being. 11 Another mechanism through which SBM use may be associated with well-being is described in the displacement hypothesis: participation in activities such as watching television or using social networks takes up time that otherwise would be spent being physically active or hanging out with friends in person. 4,12,13 This displacement of activities may have a negative effect on well-being if interactions with people with whom relationship ties are strong are replaced. If a replacement activity, such as television viewing, replaces physical activity, well-being may suffer, because studies have shown a positive relationship between physical activity and well-being. 3,14 Recent studies have shown that the effects of SBM use on markers of health and well-being differ by type of media, with increased television viewing producing the most consistent results. 15–17 We added to previous work by looking at use of social media sites and different gaming modes (computer games and game consoles). We also included participation in sports, because studies have shown an inverse relationship between SBM use and physical activity, along with an independent association of physical activity with well-being in young people. 4,10,15–21 Through the simultaneous examination of different SBM, we gained a more comprehensive picture of SBM use and well-being than was previously possible. Our objectives were to describe SBM use among UK youths and to examine the association of SBM use and sports participation with well-being.
