Association between Internet Use Behavior and Palpitation among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study of Middle School Children from Northwest Romania

Cecilia Lazea, Alexandra Popa and Cristina Varga
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Cecilia Lazea: Department Pediatrics I, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy ”Iuliu Hatieganu”, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Alexandra Popa: Department Pediatrics I, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy ”Iuliu Hatieganu”, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cristina Varga: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), 67299 Strasbourg, France

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Purpose: The use of the internet is a tool and media literacy has become an essential skill among adolescents. Related to this behavior, some adolescents evoke cardiovascular effects. The purpose of this study was to explore a possible correlation between internet use behavior and occurrence of palpitations and related symptoms among a representative cohort of adolescents from the north-west region of Romania. Method: The study included students of seven middle schools from Northwest Romania. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 18 questions about internet use. Results: In total, 1147 students responded to the study. Mean duration of daily internet usage was 2.57 h during school time and 3.57 h during the holidays. A total of 77% of adolescents had more than one symptom related to internet use, and 11% of them reported palpitations and related symptoms. We found an independent relation between palpitation and urban background, palpitations and the internet usage time interval 20:00–24:00, and palpitations and tobacco smoking. Strong heartbeats were independently associated with the time interval 12:00–16:00, tobacco smoking, and energy drink consumption. Conclusion: In our cohort, the most important factors associated with the occurrence of palpitations and related symptoms were the timeframe of internet usage and smoking.

Keywords: internet; adolescents; cardiac symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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