Examining communication- and media-based recreational sedentary behaviors among Canadian youth: results from the COMPASS study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of different communication- and media-based sedentary behaviors and examine how they are associated with modifiable risk behaviors and key demographic correlates among a large sample of youth.


METHODS
Data from 23,031 grade 9 to grade 12 students in Year 1 (2012-2013) of the COMPASS study (Canada) were used to examine the prevalence of sedentary behaviors by gender and by grade. The between-school variance in sedentary behaviors was calculated and models were developed to examine how modifiable risk factors and demographic correlates were associated with sedentary behaviors.


RESULTS
Youth averaged 494 (± 313) min/day of sedentary behavior and 96.7% of the sample exceeded the sedentary behavior guidelines of no more than 2h per day. Significant between-school random variation in the sedentary behaviors was identified. Substance use, weight status, ethnicity, and gender were the main predictors of the sedentary behaviors examined.


CONCLUSIONS
The vast majority of youth in the COMPASS sample are considered highly sedentary. The evidence clearly suggests we need to develop more effective methods of intervening, that school-based programming is warranted, and that gender-specific programming may be required.
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1. Electronic address: sleather@uwaterloo.ca.
Scott T
ST
Leatherdale
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1.
Amanda
A
Harvey
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003146:Communications Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011998:Recreation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends
Alcohol; Marijuana; Obesity; Physical activity; Screen time; Sedentary behavior; Tobacco; Youth