Country, age, and gender differences in the prevalence of screen-based behaviour and family-related factors among school-aged children

Background: New information and communication technologies have become an important part of adolescents’ everyday lives. However, the sedentary behaviour of young people in Central Europe has become more similar to that found in Western European countries. This study can provide baseline data for a future comparison and investigation of lifestyle and health behaviours in this region in the future. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess country, age, and gender differences in the prevalence of sedentary behaviour activities and family-related factors among school-aged children. Methods: Using the methodology of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study was performed in 2013, collecting data from 11- and 15-year-old Slovak (n= 488) and Czech (n= 418) children. The data was explored using c2 tests to determine statistical significance. Results: Two-thirds of the respondents watch televi-sion or use a computer for at least two hours a day. The older children (older vs. younger: 73.6% vs. 53.9%, c2 = 35.6, p < .001) spent excessive amounts of time watching television. More than half of the children have a television (51.9%) or a computer (73.0%) in their bedroom. More than half of their parents rarely or never apply rules about how long they can watch TV (63.9%) or time spent on the computer (55.5%). The Slovak children reported watching television together with their parents every day significantly more frequently than their Czech peers (Slovak vs. Czech children 31.0% vs. 18.7%, c2 = 17.9, p < .001). Conclusions: The prevalence of screen-based behaviour is relatively high, as is screen time spent together with parents, especially among the Slovak children. Moreover, many children reported that their parents rarely or never applied rules about the length and content of their television watching or time spent on the computer.

"Two-thirds of the respondents watch televi-sion or use a computer for at least two hours a day. The older children (older vs. younger: 73.6% vs. 53.9%, c2 = 35.6, p < .001) spent excessive amounts of time watching television. More than half of the children have a television (51.9%) or a computer (73.0%) in their bedroom. More than half of their parents rarely or never apply rules about how long they can watch TV (63.9%) or time spent on the computer (55.5%). The Slovak children reported watching television together with their parents every day significantly more frequently than their Czech peers (Slovak vs. Czech children 31.0% vs. 18.7%, c2 = 17.9, p < .001)" (Pavelka et al., 2016, pp. 143)