IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i21p11335-d666982.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Changes in Families’ Leisure, Educational/Work and Social Screen Time Behaviours before and during COVID-19 in Australia: Findings from the Our Life at Home Study

Author

Listed:
  • Lauren Arundell

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Jenny Veitch

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Shannon Sahlqvist

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Riaz Uddin

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Nicola D. Ridgers

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Jo Salmon

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Anna Timperio

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Kate Parker

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

Abstract

This study aimed to understand differences in leisure, educational/work and social screen time behaviours experienced by parents and children due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, which may inform behaviour change strategies and policy in the transition to a COVID-normal life. Participants in the “Our Life at Home” study ( n = 218 parents from Australia, 43.4 ± 6.8 years, 88% female) completed a cross-sectional online survey in April/May 2020. Parents recalled their own and their child (8.7 ± 2.0 years, 42% female) or adolescents (15.0 ± 1.5 years, 50% female) participation in nine screen time behaviours in the past month (during lockdown) and retrospectively for February 2020 (pre-lockdown), providing data on 436 individuals. Screen time behaviours included leisure (computer/laptop and tablet/smartphone for leisure, TV/videos/DVDs and game consoles); education/work (computer/laptop and tablet/smartphone for work/education); and social screen time (computer/tablet/smartphone for social communication with friends, family and work (parents only)). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and effect sizes ( r ) compared the time spent in each behaviour pre-lockdown and during lockdown. Large differences were observed in social (parents: r = 0.41–0.57; children: r = 0.55–0.65; adolescents: r = 0.28–0.43) and education (children: r = 0.50–0.65 and adolescents: r = 0.25–0.37) behaviours. There were small or no differences in leisure time screen use. COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have impacted parent’s and children’s screen time, and future research and policy should consider strategies to support families to manage screen time.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauren Arundell & Jenny Veitch & Shannon Sahlqvist & Riaz Uddin & Nicola D. Ridgers & Jo Salmon & Anna Timperio & Kate Parker, 2021. "Changes in Families’ Leisure, Educational/Work and Social Screen Time Behaviours before and during COVID-19 in Australia: Findings from the Our Life at Home Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11335-:d:666982
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11335/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11335/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrea Nathan & Phoebe George & Michelle Ng & Elizabeth Wenden & Pulan Bai & Zino Phiri & Hayley Christian, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Western Australian Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Lauren Arundell & Kate Parker & Jo Salmon & Jenny Veitch & Anna Timperio, 2019. "Informing Behaviour Change: What Sedentary Behaviours Do Families Perform at Home and How Can They Be Targeted?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Lauren Arundell & Jo Salmon & Jenny Veitch & Anna Timperio, 2019. "The Relationship between Objectively Measured and Self-Reported Sedentary Behaviours and Social Connectedness among Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-11, January.
    4. Brooke E. Wagner & Amanda L. Folk & Samantha L. Hahn & Daheia J. Barr-Anderson & Nicole Larson & Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, 2021. "Recreational Screen Time Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study among a Diverse Population-Based Sample of Emerging Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    5. Jacob Meyer & Cillian McDowell & Jeni Lansing & Cassandra Brower & Lee Smith & Mark Tully & Matthew Herring, 2020. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jeong-Hui Park & Eunhye Yoo & Youngdeok Kim & Jung-Min Lee, 2021. "What Happened Pre- and during COVID-19 in South Korea? Comparing Physical Activity, Sleep Time, and Body Weight Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Raquel Lara & Martha Fernández-Daza & Sara Zabarain-Cogollo & María Angustias Olivencia-Carrión & Manuel Jiménez-Torres & María Demelza Olivencia-Carrión & Adelaida Ogallar-Blanco & Débora Godoy-Izqui, 2021. "Active Coping and Anxiety Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spanish Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Jenny Veitch & Elliott Flowers & Kylie Ball & Benedicte Deforche & Anna Timperio, 2020. "Exploring Children’s Views on Important Park Features: A Qualitative Study Using Walk-Along Interviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Victoria Blom & Amanda Lönn & Björn Ekblom & Lena V. Kallings & Daniel Väisänen & Erik Hemmingsson & Gunnar Andersson & Peter Wallin & Andreas Stenling & Örjan Ekblom & Magnus Lindwall & Jane Salier E, 2021. "Lifestyle Habits and Mental Health in Light of the Two COVID-19 Pandemic Waves in Sweden, 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Ilse Adriana Gutiérrez-Pérez & Pedro Delgado-Floody & Daniel Jerez-Mayorga & Diego Soto-García & Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete & Isela Parra-Rojas & Nacim Molina-Gutiérrez & Iris Paola Guzmán-Guzmán, 2021. "Lifestyle and Sociodemographic Parameters Associated with Mental and Physical Health during COVID-19 Confinement in Three Ibero-American Countries. A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Mohamed A. Zayed, 2022. "Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Physical Fitness Association with Mental Health among Higher Education Students: A Multi-Group Analysis Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    8. Malou Grubben & Sara Wiertsema & Remco Hoekman & Gerbert Kraaykamp, 2022. "Is Working from Home during COVID-19 Associated with Increased Sports Participation? Contexts of Sports, Sports Location and Socioeconomic Inequality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    9. Tadashi Ito & Hideshi Sugiura & Yuji Ito & Koji Noritake & Nobuhiko Ochi, 2021. "Effect of the COVID-19 Emergency on Physical Function among School-Aged Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-9, September.
    10. Maria Elvén & Birgitta Kerstis & Jonas Stier & Charlotta Hellström & Petra von Heideken Wågert & Micael Dahlen & Daniel Lindberg, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Swedish Population Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.
    11. Haleama Al Sabbah & Zainab Taha & Radwan Qasrawi & Enas A. Assaf & Leila Cheikh Ismail & Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri & Maha Hoteit & Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh & Reema Tayyem & Hiba Bawadi & Majid AlKhalaf & Khlood B, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, August.
    12. Yi-Ching Lee & Lindsey A. Malcein & Sojung Claire Kim, 2021. "Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Usage during COVID-19: Motivating Factors and Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    13. Xiangyou Shen & Megan MacDonald & Samuel W. Logan & Colby Parkinson & Lydia Gorrell & Bridget E. Hatfield, 2022. "Leisure Engagement during COVID-19 and Its Association with Mental Health and Wellbeing in U.S. Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-22, January.
    14. Paige Coyne & Zach Staffell & Sarah J. Woodruff, 2021. "Recreational Screen Time Use among a Small Sample of Canadians during the First Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-9, December.
    15. Curtis Fennell & Thomas Eremus & Moisés Grimaldi Puyana & Borja Sañudo, 2022. "The Importance of Physical Activity to Augment Mood during COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    16. Giuditta Carretti & Daniela Mirandola & Sara Germano & Mirko Manetti & Mirca Marini, 2022. "Adapted Physical Activity Protocol for Lower Limb Functional and Strength Recovery in a Young Athlete with Cutaneous Melanoma: Feasibility and Efficacy during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, August.
    17. Daheia J. Barr-Anderson & Vivienne M. Hazzard & Samantha L. Hahn & Amanda L. Folk & Brooke E. Wagner & Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, 2021. "Stay-at-Home Orders during COVID-19: The Influence on Physical Activity and Recreational Screen Time Change among Diverse Emerging Adults and Future Implications for Health Promotion and the Preventio," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Kele Ding & Jingzhen Yang & Ming-Kai Chin & Lindsay Sullivan & J. Larry Durstine & Verónica Violant-Holz & Giyasettin Demirhan & Nara R.C. Oliveira & Biljana Popeska & Garry Kuan & Waheeda Khan & Jian, 2021. "Physical Activity among Adults Residing in 11 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, July.
    19. Jan Wilke & Lisa Mohr & Adam S. Tenforde & Pascal Edouard & Chiara Fossati & Marcela González-Gross & Celso Sánchez Ramírez & Fernando Laiño & Benedict Tan & Julian David Pillay & Fabio Pigozzi & Davi, 2021. "A Pandemic within the Pandemic? Physical Activity Levels Substantially Decreased in Countries Affected by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, February.
    20. Sandra Haider & Lee Smith & Lovro Markovic & Felipe B. Schuch & Kabir P. Sadarangani & Guillermo Felipe Lopez Sanchez & Rubén Lopez-Bueno & Alejandro Gil-Salmerón & Anita Rieder & Mark A. Tully & Lena, 2021. "Associations between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Time Spent Outdoors with Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lock Down in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11335-:d:666982. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.