New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Increased computer use by adolescents cause for concern, Canadian study finds

Date:
April 26, 2011
Source:
Queen's University
Summary:
Researchers in Canada have found a strong association between computer and Internet use in adolescents and engagement in multiple-risk behaviors, including illicit drug use, drunkenness and unprotected sex.
Share:
FULL STORY

Researchers have found a strong association between computer and Internet use in adolescents and engagement in multiple-risk behaviours (MRB), including illicit drug use, drunkenness and unprotected sex.

"This research is based on social cognitive theory, which suggests that seeing people engaged in a behaviour is a way of learning that behaviour," explains lead researcher Valerie Carson, a doctoral candidate in School of Kinesiology and Health Studies. "Since adolescents are exposed to considerable screen time -- over 4.5 hours on average each day -- they're constantly seeing images of behaviours they can then potentially adopt."

The researchers found that high computer use was associated with approximately 50 per cent increased engagement with a cluster of six MRB, including smoking, drunkenness, non-use of seatbelts, cannabis and illicit drug use, and unprotected sex. High television use was also associated with a modestly increased engagement in these MRB.

One explanation behind this finding is that a considerable amount of advertising that used to be shown on TV is now being shown on the Internet. In addition, computer usage by adolescents has increased considerably in recent years.

"TV and video games have more established protocols in terms of censorship, but Internet protocols aren't as established," says Ms Carson. "Parents can make use of programs that control access to the Internet, but adolescents in this age group are quite savvy about technology and the Internet. It's possible that these types of controls aren't effective in blocking all undesirable websites."

This research, recently published in the journal Preventive Medicine, suggests that future studies should examine the specific content adolescents are being exposed to in order to help strengthen current screen time guidelines for youth.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Queen's University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Valerie Carson, William Pickett, Ian Janssen. Screen time and risk behaviors in 10- to 16-year-old Canadian youth. Preventive Medicine, 2011; 52 (2): 99 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.07.005

Cite This Page:

Queen's University. "Increased computer use by adolescents cause for concern, Canadian study finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 April 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110425135649.htm>.
Queen's University. (2011, April 26). Increased computer use by adolescents cause for concern, Canadian study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110425135649.htm
Queen's University. "Increased computer use by adolescents cause for concern, Canadian study finds." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110425135649.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES