title: Age and Gender Differences in Prevalence of Screen Based Behaviour, Physical Activity and Health Complaints among Slovak School-aged Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess age and gender differences in prevalence of screen based behaviour, physical activity and health complaints among Slovak school-aged children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the cross-sectional Health Behaviour of School-aged Children study collected in 2010 among Slovak children (age 11-15 years, N=8,042) was used. Logistic regression models adjusted to age and gender were used to analyse the associations between watching TV, working with a computer or playing computer games and physical activity and headache, backache, sleep difficulties, feeling low, irritability, and feeling nervous.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Around one-quarter of adolescents is spending more than three hours a day with screen-based activities. While the age was significantly associated with watching TV and computer use, gender was significantly associated only with excessive computer use. As for physical activity only 25% of adolescents reported being physically active every day as recommended, and this number decreases with increasing age. Boys used to be more often active in comparison with girls. A sizeable number of adolescents suffer with selected health complaints every week. Moreover, the prevalence of health complaints increases with age and is significantly higher among girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of screen-based activities as well as insufficient physical activity and health complaints among adolescents is relatively high and it increases with age. Gender differences are also significant, except for watching TV.
authors: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Husárová
authors: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors: Zuzana Dankulincová
authors: ZD
authors: Veselská
authors: Centre for Kinanthropology Research, Institute of Active Lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors: Dagmar
authors: D
authors: Sigmundová
authors: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic.|Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors: Andrea Madarasová
authors: AM
authors: Gecková
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D018154:Slovakia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: adolescence; computer use; physical complaints; psychological complaints; watching TV