Abstract
Purpose
To explore the cross-sectional relationships between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical activity (PA) behaviours and screen-based media (SBM) use among a sample of Australian adolescents.
Methods
Data came from baseline measures collected for the It’s Your Move! community-based obesity prevention intervention. Questionnaire data on sociodemographics, PA, SBM and HRQoL were collected from 3,040 students (56% boys) aged 11–18 years in grade levels 7–11 in 12 secondary schools. Anthropometric data were measured.
Results
The highest level of PA at recess, lunchtime and after school was associated with higher HRQoL scores (boys, by 5.3, 8.1, 6.3 points; girls, by 4.2, 6.1, 8.2 points) compared with not being active during these periods. Exceeding 2 h of SBM use each day was associated with significantly lower HRQoL scores (boys, by 3.2 points; girls, by 4.0 points). Adolescents who were physically active and low SBM users on school days had higher HRQoL scores (boys, by 6.6 points; girls, by 7.8 points) compared with those who were not physically active every school day and high SBM users on school days.
Conclusions
Several of the relationships between low PA and high SBM use and HRQoL were comparable to those previously observed between chronic disease conditions and HRQoL, indicating that these behaviours deserve substantial attention.
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Acknowledgments
This project was funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services as part of the Victorian ‘Go for your life’ Healthy Eating and Physical Activity initiative, in conjunction with VicHealth and the National Health and Medical Research Council. We acknowledge the principals, teachers, students and School Project Officers (Sue Blackett, Lee Denny, Kerryn Fearnsides, Chris Green, Sonia Kinsey, Kirsty Licheni, Kate Meadows, Lauren Reading and Lyndal Taylor) from the 12 schools involved in the project. Acknowledged also are Colin Bell and others from the ‘Support and Evaluation Team’, Anthony Bernardi, Phil Day, Lawrence Meade, Lily Meloni and Narelle Robertson from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University.
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Lacy, K.E., Allender, S.E., Kremer, P.J. et al. Screen time and physical activity behaviours are associated with health-related quality of life in Australian adolescents. Qual Life Res 21, 1085–1099 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0014-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0014-5