Recreational Screen Time Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study among a Diverse Population-Based Sample of Emerging Adults

Brooke E. Wagner, Amanda L. Folk, Samantha L. Hahn, Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, Nicole Larson and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
Additional contact information
Brooke E. Wagner: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Amanda L. Folk: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Samantha L. Hahn: Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Daheia J. Barr-Anderson: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Nicole Larson: Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer: Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Understanding how screen time behaviors changed during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to inform the design of health promotion interventions. The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe changes in recreational screen time from 2018 to 2020 among a diverse sample of emerging adults. Participants (n = 716) reported their average weekly recreational screen time in 2018 and again during the pandemic in 2020. Additionally, participants qualitatively reported how events related to COVID-19 had influenced their screen time. Weekly recreational screen time increased from 25.9 ± 11.9 h in 2018 to 28.5 ± 11.6 h during COVID-19 ( p < 0.001). The form of screen time most commonly reported to increase was TV shows and streaming services (n = 233). Commonly reported reasons for changes in screen time were boredom (n = 112) and a desire to connect with others (n = 52). Some participants reported trying to reduce screen time because of its negative impact on their mental health (n = 32). Findings suggest that screen time and mental health may be intertwined during the pandemic as it may lead to poorer mental health for some, while promoting connectedness for others. Health professionals and public health messaging could promote specific forms for screen time to encourage social connection during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Keywords: COVID-19; screen time; mental health; qualitative; emerging adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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