Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between various lifestyle factors—including demographic variables, health behaviors, and screen time habits—among adolescents in Hong Kong.
METHODS: In 2024, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 20 secondary schools across Hong Kong, involving 1,704 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing their weekday screen time behaviors, sleep patterns, dietary habits (breakfast consumption, fruit and vegetable intake), physical activity, self-perceived obesity, and demographic details. Screen time was categorized as either less than 2 hours or 2 hours and above per weekday for television, electronic games, and social media. To identify factors that influence reduced screen time, multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed.
RESULTS: Results found that adolescents with sufficient sleep were significantly more likely to engage in less weekday screen time across all three types of screen use. Regarding electronic games, participants aged 13-14 years and male adolescents had higher odds of exceeding 2 hours of screen time. Additionally, behaviors such as eating breakfast daily, consuming adequate fruit, engaging in sufficient physical activity, and maintaining adequate sleep were all positively associated with lower screen time usage. For social media, male adolescents, those who ate breakfast daily, and those who achieved adequate sleep exhibited significantly lower usage, while younger participants and those with higher levels of physical activity tended to have higher screen time.
CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent screen time is significantly influenced by a range of lifestyle factors, including sleep quality, dietary habits, physical activity, and gender. Interventions aimed at promoting regular breakfast intake, increasing physical activity, and encouraging adequate sleep could effectively reduce screen time and its associated health risks, benefiting adolescent health in Hong Kong.