Factors Affecting Adolescents’ Screen Viewing Duration: A Social Cognitive Approach Based on the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating (FLASHE) Survey

Abstract

The pervasiveness of prolonged screen viewing (SV) in adolescence is of significant concern given its well-documented implications with various health outcomes. Based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study explored how a wide range of individual, environmental, and behavioral factors correlate with adolescents’ SV duration. The study used adolescents’ self-reported data from the cross-sectional Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating (FLASHE) study implemented by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Findings indicated that adolescents’ SV duration were different across various age and ethnic groups. It was positively associated with emotion regulation and negatively connected with self-efficacy in limiting screen time. Compared to un-authoritative parenting style, authoritative parenting had an advantage in curbing adolescents’ screen use. General media susceptibility strongly correlated with SV duration. Perception of peers’ behaviors (descriptive norm) and how peers would react adversely (injunctive norm) were both connected with SV duration. SV duration was negatively connected with physical activity whereas positively linked with sedentary behavior. Theoretical and practical implications were outlined, as well as limitations and directions for future research.