Age and gender differences in prevalence of screen based behaviour, physical activity and health complaints among Slovak school-aged children

Abstract

SUMMARY Aim: The aim of this study was to assess age and gender differences in prevalence of screen based behaviour, physical activity and health complaints among Slovak school-aged children. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional Health Behaviour of School-aged Children study collected in 2010 among Slovak children (age 11–15 years, N = 8,042) was used. Logistic regression models adjusted to age and gender were used to analyse the associations between watching TV, working with a computer or playing computer games and physical activity and headache, backache, sleep difficulties, feeling low, irritability, and feeling nervous. Results: Around one-quarter of adolescents is spending more than three hours a day with screen-based activities. While the age was significantly associated with watching TV and computer use, gender was significantly associated only with excessive computer use. As for physical activity, only 25% of adolescents reported being physically active every day as recommended, and this number decreases with increasing age. Boys used to be more often active in comparison with girls. A sizeable number of adolescents suffer with selected health complaints every week. Moreover, the prevalence of health complaints increases with age and is significantly higher among girls. Conclusions: The prevalence of screen-based activities as well as insufficient physical activity and health complaints among adolescents is relatively high and it increases with age. Gender differences are also significant, except for watching TV.