Screen time and quality of life in Austrian young adults

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the screen-related habits and quality of life among a sample of young Austrian adults. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire study was conducted, assessing quality of life using the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life–BREF questionnaire. Participants were queried about their physical activity levels and screen-based activities, including social media engagement, computer or mobile phone gaming, and on-demand TV or series watching. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between quality of life and screen time. Additionally, gender differences and correlations between quality of life and BMI and age were assessed. Results: The study comprised 400 young Austrian adults aged 18 to 30. Findings revealed negative associations between quality of life and social media usage, as well as watching series. Conversely, quality of life was positively correlated with physical activity. While female participants exhibited significantly greater engagement with computer or mobile games, no gender differences were observed in physical activity levels. Notably, gaming accounted for the majority of screen time. Conclusion: Elevated screen time was linked to decreased quality of life, while increased physical activity was associated with higher quality of life. Gaming emerged as the predominant screen-related activity. Future research should investigate strategies to integrate physical activity into gaming to potentially enhance overall quality of life. Promoting awareness among young adults regarding their screen usage across various devices and its potential adverse effects on their well-being could play a pivotal role in fostering improvements.