Screen-based behaviour and school difficulties among adolescents: the role of sleep problems and dietary habits

Abstract

Background: Electronic media have become fully integrated parts of the lives of children and adolescents and a very important factor in their socialization and health. Therefore we examined the associations between screen-based behaviour and school difficulties, and factors which might mediate these associations. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional Health Behaviour of School-aged Children study collected in 2014 among Slovak adolescents (aged 11 to 15 years old, N=9,250, 50.3% boys) were used. We examined the inter-relations between screen-based behaviour (time spent working with computer, time spent playing computer games), sleeping problems (sleeping quality, sleeping duration), dietary habits (consumption of soft and energy drinks) and school difficulties (disliking school, low academic achievement, being pressured by the schoolwork or truancy), using path analysis. Findings: Results showed that spending time on a computer is associated with school difficulties through sleep problems and unhealthy dietary habits. Time spent with computer work by adolescents was also associated with a higher prevalence of consumption of soft and energy drinks, a higher prevalence of sleep problems and a shorter duration of sleep. Next, more frequent unhealthy dietary habits and sleeping difficulties were associated with a less positive attitude towards school, worse academic achievement, and a higher experience pressure by the schoolwork and truancy. Discussion: Screen-based behaviour together with high soft and energy intake are associated with poorer quality and quantity of sleep, which at its turn influences school difficulties in adolescents. Public health strategies and interventions should take into account these factors.