Repository logo
 

Socio-demographic, psychosocial and home-environmental attributes associated with adults' domestic screen time.


Change log

Authors

Van Dyck, Delfien 
Cardon, Greet 
Deforche, Benedicte 
Owen, Neville 
De Cocker, Katrien 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviors (involving prolonged sitting time) are associated with deleterious health consequences, independent of (lack of) physical activity. To inform interventions, correlates of prevalent sedentary behaviors need to be identified. We examined associations of socio-demographic, home-environmental and psychosocial factors with adults' TV viewing time and leisure-time Internet use; and whether psychosocial and environmental correlates differed according to gender, age and educational attainment. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ghent, Belgium, between March and May 2010. Respondents to a mail-out survey (n = 419; 20-65 years; mean age 48.5 [12.1] years; 47.3% men) completed a questionnaire on sedentary behaviors and their potential socio-demographic, psychosocial and home environmental correlates. Statistical analyses were performed using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: The independent variables explained 31% of the variance in TV viewing time and 38% of the variance in leisure-time Internet use. Higher education, greater perceived pros of and confidence about reducing TV time were negatively associated with TV viewing time; older age, higher body mass index, larger TV set size and greater perceived cons of reducing TV time showed positive associations. Perceived pros of and confidence about reducing Internet use were negatively associated with leisure-time Internet use; higher education, number of computers in the home, positive family social norms about Internet use and perceived cons of reducing Internet use showed positive associations. None of the socio-demographic factors moderated these associations. CONCLUSIONS: Educational level, age, self-efficacy and pros/cons were the most important correlates identified in this study. If further cross-sectional and longitudinal research can confirm these findings, tailored interventions focusing on both psychosocial and environmental factors in specific population subgroups might be most effective to reduce domestic screen time.

Description

Keywords

Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Belgium, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Female, Housing, Humans, Internet, Leisure Activities, Male, Middle Aged, Sedentary Behavior, Self Efficacy, Social Environment, Television, Time Factors, Young Adult

Journal Title

BMC Public Health

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1471-2458
1471-2458

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Academy of Medical Sciences (unknown)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/3)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179473)