Naturally Occurring Changes in Time Spent Watching Television Are Inversely Related to Frequency of Physical Activity During Early Adolescence

• NCJ Number: 213032
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 19-32
• Author(s): Robert W. Motl; Edward McAuley; Amanda S. Birnbaum; Leslie A. Lytle
• Date Published: February 2006
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 5R01 CA71943-03
• Sponsoring Agency: National Cancer Institute
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This longitudinal study of adolescent boys and girls (n=4,594) examined the relationship between changes in the amount of time spent watching television and playing video games with the frequency of leisure-time physical activity over a 2-year period.

Abstract

The study found that a decrease in the amount of time spent watching television was associated with a dramatic increase in the frequency of leisure-time physical activity. This finding did not vary by gender; socioeconomic status; tobacco use; or the priority participants gave to their health, appearance, and achievement. Controlling for changes in tobacco use and the value participants placed on their health, appearance, and achievement rendered insignificant any link between reduction in video game playing and increase in physical activity. These findings encourage the development of interventions that may reduce the time children spend watching television as a method of increasing levels of physical activity among adolescents. Data for this study were obtained from the study on Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School. The study sample was drawn from 16 middle schools in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (Minnesota). Data were collected on three occasions over 2 years, beginning in the fall of 1998 (beginning of seventh grade, baseline data) and ending in the spring of 2000 (end of eighth grade, followup data). Physical activity was measured by a single time that has been sensitive to detecting intervention effects and tracking physical activity among youth. Other variables measured through self-reports were time spent watching television and playing video games; smoking behavior; socioeconomic status; and the value participants placed on their health, appearance, and achievement. Latent growth curve modeling was used to examine the interactions among and links between the variables. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 41 references