THE RELATIONSHIP OF SCREEN-TIME DURATION WITH HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Adolescents today spend an average of 3–4 hours daily on screen-based activities, far exceeding the recommended limit of 2 hours per day by the World Health Organization (WHO).(Dubey et al., 2018) This trend has escalated with the rise of smartphones, online education, and digital entertainment platforms, drastically transforming adolescent lifestyles. Screen-time, defined as the total time spent on devices like smartphones, computers, televisions, and tablets, has seen a dramatic increase over recent years. While technology has enabled advancements in communication and education, excessive screen-time poses a critical challenge to health-related fitness, which encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being.(Panjeti-Madan & Ranganathan, 2023) Health-related fitness is a multidimensional construct, including components such as cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition, which are essential for overall well-being and quality of life.(Britton et al., 2020) Adolescence, a critical period of growth and development, requires balanced physical activity for optimal health. However, sedentary behaviours associated with prolonged screen-time often lead to adverse health outcomes, such as obesity, musculoskeletal issues, and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.(Kumar et al., 2015) Consequently, understanding the relationship between screen-time duration and health-related fitness is vital to developing evidence-based interventions aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles in adolescents.