Correlates of video game screen time among males: body mass, physical activity, and other media use.
This study examined the correlations between media use, body mass variables, and physical activity among 116 male undergraduates (white n=106; African American n=5, Latin American n=1, Asian American n=2, and 2 others). Length of video game play during one sitting was positively related to body mass index (BMI; r=.27, p<.01) and negatively correlated with frequency of exercise (r=-.21, p<.05) and days of walking (r=-.22, p<.05). Frequency of video game play was negatively correlated with length of exercising (r=-.21, p<.05). Years of video game play was negatively correlated with length of exercise (r=-.21, p<.05). These results were stronger among those who play online games. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that video game use predicted BMI, accounting for 6.9% of the variance. The implications of the results are discussed.
Ballard
Mary
M
Appalachian State University, United States. ballardm@pm.appstate.edu
Gray
Melissa
M
Reilly
Jenny
J
Noggle
Matthew
M
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009043:Motor Activity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult