A Study of Screen-dependent Leisure Activity, Health Behaviors and Mental Health for Child and Youth

• Main Authors: Chung, Kuo-Ching, 鐘國慶
• Other Authors: Chen, Mei-Fen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/sztc5w

碩士 === 國立臺東大學 === 健康促進與休閒管理碩士在職專班 === 100 === The issue of screen-based leisure activity has drawn much attention and was affected by the development of information technology in recent years. Its prevalence has become the key to child and youth’s physical and mental development. The purpose of this study is to investigate the child and youth’s leisure activities via TV and computer as the media and its impact on health behaviors and mental health. The data was collected from the 5th-grade to 9th-grade pupils in Taitung County through a questionnaire survey with stratified random sampling, and obtained 1103 valid data. The research results showed that child and youth with different gender, grade, residence, the screen-dependent level and sleeping time had significant differences on their health behavior. It also displayed significant differences on their mental health with unlike gender, grade, family situation The screen-dependent time had a negative correlation among health behavior, mental health and its dimensions while it was a positive correlation among health behavior, mental health and its dimensions. Most importantly, the screen-dependent level had appeared significant effects on health behavior but not for the mental health. The former demonstrated positive effects to the later, and their dimensions were negative correlated. Finally, health behavior has a positive significant influence on mental health as well as mediation effects were existed. According to the research results, some recommendations are provided as follows: (1) to modify the habits of relying too much on screen; (2) to establish the appropriate policy of using screen and to develop health behaviors including to build up appropriate habits and increase physical movement, to promote the implementation of dietary education and leave out the poor diet habits; (3)to strengthen the concepts of positive leisure activities for child and youth and to encourage them to have regular exercise; (4) to establish better health behaviors and interpersonal relationships Finally, researcher presented some limitations of this research and provided some suggestions for further studies.