Abstract Although previous studies have suggested an association between digital media use and health, detailed knowledge about how different types of digital media impact adolescent health is limited.This cross-sectional population-based study explored the relationship between time spent on various digital media and adolescents’ self-rated general and mental health.The study included 3566 Swedish high school students aged 16–17 years.Associations between time spent on digital media (social media, gaming, watching movies/series/video clips etc.and digital schoolwork) and self-rated health outcomes (general health, self-esteem, symptoms of worry/anxiety and low mood/depression, trust in other people, head/neck/shoulder pain and sleep quality) was assessed.
Statistical analyses employed logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (sociodemographic variables and health behaviours).In the adjusted models, spending very high amounts of time (≥ 6 h/day) on any digital media, except schoolwork, was associated with poor self-esteem, symptoms of low mood/depression and poor sleep (ORs 1.35–2.93, p < 0.
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.05).
Spending six hours or more on digital media was also associated with worry/anxiety (for social media and gaming), head/neck/shoulder pain (for social media, watching movies/series/video clips and schoolwork), poor general health (for gaming and watching movies/series/video clips) and low trust (for gaming) (ORs 1.39–3.
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.18, p < 0.05).High amounts of time (4–5 h/day) of watching movies/series/video clips was associated with daily symptoms of low mood/depression, neck/shoulder pain, and low trust in other people (ORs 1.
46, 1.41, and 1.32, p < 0.05).This study indicates a dose-response relationship between digital media use and adverse health outcomes in adolescents, where adverse associations start to appear after 4–5 h, particularly for watching movies/series/video clips.
However, further longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials and public health interventions focused on healthy and balanced use of digital media are warranted