/ DE L’ACADÉMIE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE DE L’ENFANT ET DE L’ADOLESCENT

RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Independent and Interactive Associations of Screen Time and Physical Activity on Mental Health, School Connectedness and Academic Achievement among a Population-Based Sample of Youth Linda Trinh PhD1; Bonny Wong MA1; Guy E. Faulkner PhD1 ██ Abstract Objective: Few studies have addressed the links between sedentary behaviour (SED) and mental health in youth. Most studies on physical activity (PA) and SED examine their independent effects on mental health, or fail to account for PA in this relationship. The purpose of this study is to examine the independent effects of PA and screen time on mental health, school connectedness and academic achievement, and potential interactions between PA and screen time in such associations. Methods: Data was obtained through 2,660 adolescents who completed the self-administered Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) in 2009. Self-reported variables of demographics, PA, screen time, and mental health indicators were also collected. Results: Using logistic regression, screen time was inversely associated with all mental health indicators (p