AUTHOR=Novaković Svetlana , Milenković Sanja , Srećković Marijana , Backović Dušan , Ignjatović Vladimir , Capo Nataša , Stojanović Tamara , Vukomanović Vladimir , Sekulić Marija , Gavrilović Jagoda , Vuleta Katarina , Ignjatović Vesna 

TITLE=Children’s Internet use and physical and psychosocial development

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1163458

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1163458

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Internet use (IU) commonly refers to sedentary lifestyle and may be addictive, especially among children. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between IU and some aspects of child physical and psychosocial development.</p></sec><sec><title>Methodology</title><p>We conducted a cross-sectional survey by using a screen-time based sedentary behavior questionnaire and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)—among 836 primary school children in the Braničevo District. The children’s medical records were analysed for vision problems and spinal deformities. Their body weight (BW) and height (BH) were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as BW in kilograms divided by BH in meters squared (kg/m<sup>2</sup>).</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The average age of respondents was 13.4 (SD 1.2) years. The mean duration of daily Internet use and sedentary behavior was 236 (SD 156) and 422 (SD 184) minutes, respectively. There was no significant correlation between daily IU and vision problems (near sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, strabismus), and spinal deformities. However, daily Internet use is significantly associated with obesity (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and sedentary behavior (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01). There was significant correlation between emotional symptoms with total Internet usage time, and total sedentary score (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001 for both, <italic>r</italic> = 0.141 and <italic>r</italic> = 0.132, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the total sedentary score of children and hyperactivity/inattention (<italic>r</italic> = 0.167, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), emotional symptoms (<italic>r</italic> = 0.132, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), and conduct problems (<italic>r</italic> = 0.084, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>In our study, children’s Internet use was associated with obesity, psychological disturbances and social maladjustment.</p></sec>