Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria.
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 25;19(15):9072. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159072.
Previous studies show detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on the lives of adolescents. Adolescents have experienced disruption in their daily routines, including changes in health behaviors such as an increased sedentary behavior and increased smartphone usage. The aim of this study was to assess the association of health behaviors with mental health problems in Austrian adolescents during the pandemic. Five cross-sectional surveys (February 2021 to May 2022) were performed during the pandemic assessing physical activity, smartphone usage, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), sleep quality (ISI-7), and stress (PSS-10). In total, N = 7201 adolescents (age: 14−20 years ((MW±SD): 16.63 ± 1.49 years); 70.2% female, 18.8% migration background) participated. A strong increase in mobile phone usage as well as a decrease in physical activity as compared to pre-pandemic data were observed (p < 0.001). Compared to the lowest smartphone user group (<1 h/d), the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for all investigated mental health symptoms increased with increasing smartphone usage up to 3.2−6.8 in high-utilizers (>8 h/d). The aORs for depressive, anxiety, insomnia, and stress symptoms decreased in physically active compared to inactive adolescents. Results highlight the need for measures to promote responsible smartphone usage as well as to increase physical activity, so as to promote mental health in adolescence.
先前的研究表明,COVID-19 大流行及其相关封锁对青少年的生活产生了不利影响。青少年的日常生活受到干扰,包括健康行为的改变,如久坐行为增加和智能手机使用增加。本研究旨在评估大流行期间奥地利青少年健康行为与心理健康问题之间的关联。在大流行期间进行了五次横断面调查(2021 年 2 月至 2022 年 5 月),评估了身体活动、智能手机使用、抑郁症状(PHQ-9)、焦虑症状(GAD-7)、睡眠质量(ISI-7)和压力(PSS-10)。共有 7201 名青少年(年龄:14-20 岁(MW±SD):16.63±1.49 岁);70.2%为女性,18.8%为移民背景)参与了这项研究。与大流行前的数据相比,观察到智能手机使用量大幅增加,而身体活动量减少(p<0.001)。与智能手机使用量最低的组(<1 小时/天)相比,对于所有调查的心理健康症状,调整后的比值比(aOR)随着智能手机使用量的增加而增加,最高可达 3.2-6.8,在高使用者(>8 小时/天)中。与不活跃的青少年相比,积极运动的青少年的抑郁、焦虑、失眠和压力症状的 aOR 降低。结果强调需要采取措施,促进负责任地使用智能手机,并增加身体活动,以促进青少年的心理健康。