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The relationship between behavioral problems and screen time in children during COVID-19 school closures in Japan Cover

The relationship between behavioral problems and screen time in children during COVID-19 school closures in Japan

By:  and    
Open Access
|Jan 2022
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Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Table 1

Frequency of children with behavioral problems during school closures and after schools reopened

During school closuresAfter schools reopenedDuring vs. after
n (%)n (%)p
Children with at least one of the following problems:482 (50.3)364 (38.0)< .001
Irritability186 (19.3)152 (15.8)< .001
Inability to stop playing video games260 (27.1)158 (16.5)< .001
Frequent fights with siblings265 (27.6)189 (19.7)< .001
Excessive dependence on parents73 (7.6)72 (7.5).93
Refusal to sleep independently14 (1.5)18 (2.5)< .001

[i] Note. Chi-squared tests were used to compare groups

Table 2

Characteristics of children with behavioral problems during school closure

Children with behavioral problems during school closure (n = 482)Children without behavioral problems during school closure (n= 477)With problems vs. Without problems p
GenderBoysGirlsBoysGirls
253/482229/482231/477246/4770.220 †
p = 1.00 *†p = 1.00 *†
18394
28579
Grade385790.675 †
47965
56676
68484
Mean duration of watching
3.3 h (1.9)2.8 h (1.8)< .001 ǂ
TV/video (SD)
Mean duration of playing2.1 h (1.9)1.4 h (1.6)< .001 ǂ
video games (SD)
Total screen time (SD)5.4 h (2.7)4.2 h (2.5)< .001 ǂ
Mean sleep duration (SD)9.4 h (0.9)9.4 h (0.8)0.653 ǂ
Mean wakeup time (SD)7:28 (1.0 h)7:21 (1.0 h)0.109 ǂ
Mean bedtime (SD)21:54 (1.2 h)21:54 (0.9 h)0.357 ǂ
Bodyweight gain during school closure105/48256/477< .001 †

[i] Note. SD = standard deviation; h = hours; *: p compares proportion of boys and that of girls; †: Chi-squared tests were used to compare groups;

ǂ: Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare groups

Table 3

Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of exhibiting behavioral problems during school closure

CrudeAdjusted
VariableOR95% CIP valueOR95% CIP value
Time spent watching TV/video1.11.07 - 1.22< .0011.21.07-1.24< .001
Time spent playing video games1.31.2 - 1.4< .0011.31.18 - 1.41< .001
Total screen time1.21.14 - 1.28< .0011.21.14 - 1.28< .001
Bodyweight gain2.11.47 - 2.98< .0012.01.43 - 2.92< .001

[i] Note. Logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidenceinterval (CI) for the relationship between exhibiting behavioral problems and screen time (time spent watching TVand/or videos, time spent playing video games and total screen time during school closure) and experiencingbodyweight gain during school closure, respectively. Controls are gender and grades

Table 4

Characteristics of children with experiencing bodyweight gain

Children with bodyweight gain (n = 161)Children no bodyweight gain (n= 798)With bodyweight gain vs. no bodyweight gain p
BoysGirlsBoysGirls
Gender79/16182/161405/798393/7980.730 †
p = 1.00 *†p = 1.00 *†
18394
28579
Grade385790.675†
47965
56676
68484
Mean duration of watching TV/video (SD)3.6 h (2.3)2.9 h (1.8)< .001 ǂ
Mean duration of playing video games (SD)1.9 h (2.0)1.7 h (1.7)< .674 ǂ
Total screen time (SD)5.2 h (3.0)4.7 h (2.5)< .001 ǂ
Mean sleep duration (SD)9.5 h (0.8)9.4 h (0.8)0.234 ǂ
Mean wakeup time (SD)7:28 (1.0 h)7:21 (1.0 h)0.402 ǂ
Mean bedtime (SD)21:54 (0.9 h)21:54 (0.9 h)0.490 ǂ
Bodyweight gain during school closure105/161377/798< .001 †

[i] Note. SD = standard deviation; h = hours; *: p compares proportion of boys and that of girls; †: Chi-squared tests were used to compare groups;

ǂ: Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare groups

Table 5

Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals of children experiencing body weight gain during school closure

CrudeAdjusted
VariableOR95% CIP valueOR95% CIP value
Time spent watching TV/video1.21.10 - 1.30< .0011.21.08 - 1.28< .001
Time spent playing video games1.10.96 - 1.150.3171.00.91 - 1.120.845
Total screen time1.11.05 - 1.19< .0011.11.02 - 1.16< .001
Behavioral problems2.11.47 - 2.98< .0012.01.43 - 2.92< .001

[i] Note. Logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the relationship between experiencing body weight gain during school closure and screen time (time spent watching TV and/or videos, time spent playing video games and total screen time during school closure) and exhibiting behavioral problems during school closure, respectively. Controls are gender and grades

Language: English
Page range: 1 - 8
Published on: Jan 12, 2022
Published by: Center for Evidence-based Psychiatry
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2022 Chika Ueno, Shuichi Yamamoto, published by Center for Evidence-based Psychiatry
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.