Current status and correlates of screen time among children in Guangdong during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the current status of online classes, screen time and its influencing factors among primary school students in Guangdong during the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic. Methods Using the convenience sampling method, a total of 5 266 pupils aged 6-12-years-old from Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Zhongshan participated in the online questionnaire. ANOVA or chi-square tests were performed to compare differences in online classes and screen time between grades, and multinomial Logistic regression was performed to analyze the correlates of recreational screen time. Results The prevalence of prolonged recreational screen time was 42.2% and 55.2% on weekdays and weekends, respectively. Recreational screen time increased by 40.31 min/d on weekdays and 33.07 min/d on weekends, compared to usual school semesters. The average duration of an online class was (26.07+or-9.62) min, which totaled (110.41+or-51.98)min per day. Sex, grade, being the only child, and parents' education levels were identified as the influencing factors of prolonged recreational screen time. Children who practiced moderate levels (weekdays OR=1.27;weekends OR=1.40;P < 0.05) or lower levels of physical activity (weekdays OR=1.86;weekend OR=1.84;P < 0.05) were at a higher risk of prolonged recreational screen time than those who practiced more vigorous physical activity. Children whose parents limited their screen time to a moderate (weekdays OR=1.61, P < 0.05) or lower level (weekdays OR=1.32, P < 0.05) had a higher risk of prolonged recreational screen time than those with a higher frequency. Children with parents' recreational screen time 2 h/d had a higher risk of prolonged recreational screen time than the reference group;children who exhibited moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity < 1 h/d (weekdays OR=1.31, P < 0.05), and those used electronic devices for learning 1-2 h/d (weekdays OR=2.65;weekend OR=2.65;P < 0.05) or for 2 h/d (weekdays OR=4.05, weekend OR=5.24, P < 0.05) were at a higher risk of prolonged recreational screen time than the reference group. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of screen time among children in Guangdong was high. Behavioral monitoring and targeted interventions are needed to promote children's health.