How to Divide Time Between Family and Friends?

Abstract

Background: The aim of study was to assess how adolescents divide time between family and friends and whether it’s related to their mental health and quality of life Methods: The survey was conducted on a sample of 2300 students, mean age 14.8. A standard Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study questionnaire was used with questions about time spent with family (common meals and physical activity), friends (meetings and electronic media communication), life satisfaction, mental health (GHQ-12) and quality of life (KIDSCREEN) Findings: Mental health and quality of life are the best in groups (clusters) of adolescents with many family common activities regardless time spent with friends. Stepwise linear regression revealed that time spent with family explains 6% of variance of adolescents’ mental health and quality of life and 9% of life satisfaction, whereas time spent with friends on meetings only 3% of quality of life; electronic media communication with friends explains less than 1% of analyzed variables variance Discussion: Time spent with family protects adolescents’ mental health and quality of life, and time spent with friends in virtual world is unable to change this.