The influence of excessive computer usage on physical activity

Thamar Chochua

Tamar Japaridze Sofia Skliarenko

BackgroundRecent studies have shown some alarming

facts about physical fitness among today's teens.

Most teens spend at least 30 hours in a week watching TV and playing computer.

Nearly fifty percent of the teens do not do

any sort of physical activity on a regular basis.

BackgroundInternet and computer use are increasingly

common leisure-time sedentary behaviors, which have the potential to impact negatively on health outcomes.

However, little is known about the extent to which teens’ Internet and computer use is associated with the time spent in leisure-time physical activity.

Research question

Do the teenagers who spend more than 3 hours with a computer have a lack of physical activity?

AimsTo determine how many hours an average

teenager spends on computer

To determine the level of physical activity among teenagers

To examine associations of leisure-time Internet and computer usage with physical activity.

SignificanceAfter completing this research we will

have evidence if excessive computer usage influences the physical activity of a teenager.

The research results will give the background for further studies.

Study planThe research is cross- sectional,

descriptive type.

Adapted and modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire ( IPAQ)

Questionnaire consists of open and close questions

Modes of administrationSelf –administered mail

Interview In-person Telephone

Study populationInclusion criteria male or female age - 13 –19 having a computer healthy ability to cooperate

Exclusion criteria doesn’t have a

computer pregnant

Study population

35 teenagers have been interviewed using questionnaire as a study tool

Questionnaire

What is the date of your birth?

Gender

What is your occupation?

QuestionnaireHow do you prefer to spend your free

time?1. Hang out with friends2. Sit with computer3. Read books4. Other_

QuestionnaireHow much time do you spend on

computer? _ hours per dayHow many days a week do you use a

computer? _ days per week

Questionnaire How do you think, does a

computer affect your health in some way?

1. yes _2. no _

QuestionnaireDo you depend on computer?1. I’m addicted on computer 2. I use it wisely3. It doesn’t matter4. Other____

QuestionnaireThink about all the vigorous activities

that you did in the last 7 days.

Vigorous physical activities hard physical efforts that make you breathe harder than normal.

Think only about those physical activities that you did for at least 10 minutes at a time.

QuestionnaireDuring the last 7 days, on how many days

did you do vigorous physical activities like heavy lifting, digging, aerobics, or fast bicycling?

__ days per week __ hours per day

__ minutes per day __ No vigorous physical activities

QuestionnaireThink about all the moderate activities that

you did in the last 7 days.

Moderate activities -- moderate physical effort that make you breathe somewhat harder than normal.

Think only about those physical activities that you did for at least 10 minutes at a time.

QuestionnaireDuring the last 7 days, on how many days

did you do moderate physical activities like carrying light loads, bicycling at a regular pace, or doubles tennis, playing football or basketball? Do not include walking.

___ days per week ___ No moderate physical activities

QuestionnaireHow much time did you usually spend

doing moderate physical activities on one of those days?

___ hours per day ___ minutes per day ___ Don’t know/Not sure

Questionnaire

Think about the time you spent walking in the last 7 days.

This includes at school and at home, walking to travel from place to place, and any other walking that you might do solely for recreation, sport, exercise, or leisure

QuestionnaireDuring the last 7 days, on how many days

did you walk for at least 10 minutes at a time?

___ days per week ___ No walking

Questionnaire

 How much time did you usually spend

walking on one of those days? ___ hours per day ___ minutes per day ___ Don’t know/Not sure

Questionnaire The last question is about the time you

spent sitting on weekdays during the last 7 days.

Include time spent at school, at home, while doing course work and during leisure time. This may include time spent sitting at a computer, visiting friends, reading, or sitting or lying down to watch television

QuestionnaireDuring the last 7 days, how

much time did you spend sitting on a week day? 

__ hours per day __ minutes per day __ Don’t know/Not sure

Data analysesData analyses has been performed using

SPSSIndependent variable – hours spent on

computerDependant variable – physical activity,Time spent sitting

Results age hours days sitting

N valid missing

Mean STD. DeviationMinimumMaximum

35 0

16.46 2.368 13 19

35 0

3.71

1 7

35 0

6.80 .759 3 7

35 0

6.14 1.833 2 10

Data analysesResults: There is no correlation between excessive

usage of computer and physical activity r= -.038 p >.05

Conclusion

Leisure-time physical activity levels were largely independent of computer use.