Association between screen time and anxiety-depression symptoms and their comorbidity among middle school students in Taiyuan City
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025209
- VernacularTitle:太原市中学生视屏时间与焦虑抑郁症状及其共存的关联性
- Author:
LI Tongtong, CUI Qianqian, ZHANG Xinyang, XIE Yawen, ZHAO Danhe, GUO Tingyu, AO Yiyun, CHEN Jin, WANG Li
1
Author Information
1. Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Fixation,acular;
Anxiety;
Depression;
Comorbidity;
Mental health;
Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2025;46(7):980-984
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the association between screen time (ST) during leisure time and anxiety-depression symptoms among middle school students, so as to provide a basis for formulating relevant intervention measures.
Methods:From November to December 2023, a stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 2 542 students from junior and senior high school in Taiyuan City. A self designed questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to investigate ST and anxiety/depression symptoms among middle school students. The Logistic regression model was used to explore the association of ST with symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as with anxiety and depression comorbiditles (CAD).
Results:The detection rates of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and CAD were 13.69%, 15.77%, and 10.11%, respectively. The median ST was 2.00 h/d [interquartile range ( IQR =2.38) for weekly averages], with 0.33 h/d ( IQR =1.67) on work days and 5.00 h/d ( IQR=5.50) on rest days. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the total ST of mobile phones during rest days ( OR =1.07, 1.10, 1.11) and the averages ST of mobile phones over a week ( OR = 1.20 , 1.22, 1.29), as well as the total ST of all screen types during rest days ( OR =1.04, 1.04, 1.05) and the averages ST of all screen types over a week ( OR =1.08, 1.09, 1.21) were positively correlated with anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and CAD (all P <0.01).
Conclusions:Among middle school students in Taiyuan City, screen time is positively correlated with symptoms of anxiety or depression and the comorbidity of anxiety and depression, especially smartphone screen time and weekend screen use. Therefore, measures should be implemented to reduce unnecessary screen time among middle school students, especially the use of mobile phones, in order to mitigate the occurrence of anxiety and depression.
