Key result
Heavy Internet use linked to higher odds of elevated BP in healthy adolescents versus light use.
Why the study?
The relationship between time spent on the Internet and adolescent blood pressure was unknown despite growing evidence of heavy Internet use impacting health.
Does heavy Internet use increase the odds of elevated blood pressure in healthy adolescents?
Cross-Sectional (n=331)
Does heavy Internet use increase the odds of elevated blood pressure in healthy adolescents?
Heavy internet use (≥ 2 hr/day) is associated with significantly higher odds of elevated blood pressure in healthy adolescents.
Should not yet change adolescent BP screening; hypothesis-generating association requires prospective studies to assess causality.
Internet use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents. Growing evidence suggests heavy Internet use negatively impacts health, yet the relationship between time spent on the Internet and adolescent blood pressure (BP) is unknown. We examined the association between Internet use and elevated BP in a racially diverse cross-sectional sample of 331 healthy adolescents (ages 14-17 years). Heavy Internet use was defined as ≥ 2 hr/day, moderate use as <2 hr/day and ≥ 5 days/week, and light use as < 2 hr/day and ≤ 4 days/week. Elevated BP was defined as systolic or diastolic BP ≥ 90 th percentile. Heavy Internet users had statistically significantly higher odds of elevated BP compared to light Internet users. School nurses can play an important role in preventing high BP through assessment of BP and other health behaviors including Internet use, and health teaching to individuals, student groups, faculty, and parents to increase awareness of the relationship between Internet use and health.
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Cassidy‐Bushrow et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Elevated blood pressure (n=331). Heavy Internet use vs. Light Internet use was evaluated on Elevated BP (systolic or diastolic BP ≥ 90th percentile). Heavy Internet use (≥ 2 hr/day) was associated with statistically significantly higher odds of elevated blood pressure compared to light Internet use among healthy adolescents.
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