The relationships between screen time and mental health problems among Chinese adults

Background: This study aimed to examine the specific relationships between screen time and various mental health problems among community-dwelling adults in China. Methods: Self-reports of weekday and weekend screen time (TV, computer use and cell phone/tablet use), symptoms of PTSD, depression, and ADHD, and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) were completed by 7121 Chinese adults. Logistic regression was used to examine specific relationships between screen time and mental health problems with demographics, physical activity, drinking, smoking, and sleep duration as covariates. Results: On weekdays, the participants spending at least three hours on watching TV, computer use and cell phone/tablet use respectively accounted for 6.8%, 15.9% and 45.9%. On weekends, the proportions were 15.5%, 12.1% and 50.0%. Computer use on weekends was associated with higher risk of PTSD (OR=1.81); Cell phone/tablet use on weekdays and weekends was related to increased depression (OR=1.38, OR=1.28, respectively), while only computer use on weekends was related to depression (OR=1.33); Cell phone/tablet use both on weekdays and weekends was also connected to ADHD (OR=1.56, OR=1.48, respectively); On weekdays and weekends, more time TV viewing (OR=1.76-1.79, OR=1.46-1.71, respectively) and less cell phone/tablet use (OR=0.66, OR=0.65, respectively) were associated with higher numbers of PLEs. Conclusions: The relationships between different types of screen time and mental health problems are variant. Future longitudinal studies should subdivide screen time on the basis of content and explore the specific causal relationship between screen time and mental health problems.

研究背景：本研究旨在探讨中国社区居住成人的屏幕使用时长与各类精神健康问题之间的特异性关联。研究方法：7121名中国成年人完成了自我报告，内容涵盖工作日与周末的屏幕使用时长（包括电视观看、计算机使用及手机/平板使用）、创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、抑郁、注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的症状，以及类精神病性体验（PLEs）。本研究采用逻辑回归分析，以人口统计学特征、体力活动、饮酒、吸烟及睡眠时长作为协变量，探讨屏幕使用时长与各类精神健康问题之间的特异性关联。研究结果：工作日中，每日至少花费3小时用于电视观看、计算机使用及手机/平板使用的参与者分别占总样本的6.8%、15.9%及45.9%；周末该三类活动的对应比例分别为15.5%、12.1%及50.0%。周末使用计算机与更高的PTSD患病风险显著相关（优势比OR=1.81）；工作日及周末使用手机/平板均与抑郁风险升高相关（OR分别为1.38、1.28），而仅周末使用计算机与抑郁相关（OR=1.33）；工作日及周末使用手机/平板也与ADHD显著相关（OR分别为1.56、1.48）；无论是工作日还是周末，更长的电视观看时长（OR分别为1.76~1.79、1.46~1.71）与更少的手机/平板使用时长（OR分别为0.66、0.65）均与更多的类精神病性体验数量相关。研究结论：不同类型的屏幕使用时长与精神健康问题之间的关联存在差异。未来的纵向研究应基于使用内容对屏幕使用时长进行细分，并探讨屏幕使用时长与精神健康问题之间的特异性因果关联。