Factors associated with communication-based sedentary behaviors among youth: are talking on the phone, texting, and instant messaging new sedentary behaviors to be concerned about?
OBJECTIVE
Sedentary behavior research typically only examines screen time activities and not communication time activities, such as talking on the phone, texting, or instant messaging.


METHODS
Data from 2,449 grade 5 to 8 students were used to examine factors associated with the time youth spent in communication-based sedentary behaviors.


RESULTS
Screen time, physical activity, grade, and gender were associated with moderate and high communication time.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research on sedentary behavior should include measures of communication time.
Leatherdale
Scott T
ST
Department of Population Studies and Surveillance, Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. scott.leatherdale@cancercare.on.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017677:Age Distribution; D001835:Body Weight; D003142:Communication; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009864:Ontario; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012919:Social Behavior; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors