Citation

Racine EF, Debate RD, Gabriel KP, High RR. J. Sch. Health 2011; 81(12): 749-755.

Affiliation

Assistant Professor, (efracine@uncc.edu), Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223. Associate Professor, (rdebate@health.usf.edu), University of South Florida College of Public Health, Department of Community & Family Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612. Assistant Professor, (Kelley.P.Gabriel@uth.tmc.edu), University of Texas School of Public Health - Austin Regional Campus, Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Administration Building (UTA), 1616 Guadalupe Street, Suite 6.338, Austin, TX 78701. Statistical Coordinator, (rhigh@unmc.edu), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00654.x

PMID

22070506

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Media use is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and reduced quality of life among children. This study examined the relationship between media use during discretionary hours after school and psychological and physical assets among preadolescent girls. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from a larger quasi-experimental evaluation of a positive youth development program through sport for third- to fifth-grade girls. Indicators of media use were the number of hours per school day spent watching television and videos and using computers. Psychological assets included global self-esteem, body size satisfaction, and commitment to physical activity; physical assets included physical activity. Nested random effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) models were used to examine the relationship between media use and psychological and physical assets controlling for relevant confounding factors. RESULTS: The analytic sample included 1027 participants; most were ≥10 years old, non-White; 27% self-reported ≥4 hours of media use on school days. In adjusted results, media use was inversely associated with self-esteem (p = .008) and commitment to physical activity (p < .001). Time spent using media was not associated with body size satisfaction or physical activity in this age group. CONCLUSIONS: Media use was negatively associated with self-esteem and commitment to physical activity. It may be useful for school professionals to encourage after-school programs that offer opportunities for girls to reduce sedentary pursuits and improve important psychological and physical assets.

Language: en