Children's Screen Viewing is Related to Psychological Difficulties Irrespective of Physical Activity

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that greater screen use would be associated with greater psychological difficulties and that children with high levels of screen entertainment use and low levels of physical activity would have the most-negative psychological profiles. METHODS: Participants were 1013 children (age, mean ± SD: 10.95 ± 0.41 years), who self-reported average daily television hours and computer use and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Sedentary time (minutes per day with 2 hours per day watching television or using a computer were at increased risk of high levels of psychological difficulties (television, odds ratio OR: 1.61 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.20-2.15]; computer, OR: 1.59 95% CI: 1.32-1.91), and this risk increased if the children also failed to meet physical activity guidelines (television, OR: 1.70 95% CI: 1.09-2.61; computer, OR: 1.81 95% CI: 1.02-3.20). CONCLUSION: Both television viewing and computer use are important independent targets for intervention for optimal well-being for children, irrespective of levels of MVPA or overall sedentary time.