The influence of excessive computer usage on physical activity Thamar Chochua Tamar Japaridze Sofia Skliarenko

Background Recent 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.

Background Internet 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?

Aims To 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.

Significance After 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 plan The research is cross- sectional, descriptive type. Adapted and modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire ( IPAQ) Questionnaire consists of open and close questions

Modes of administration Self –administered  mail Interview  In-person  Telephone

Study population Inclusion 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?

Questionnaire How do you prefer to spend your free time? 1. Hang out with friends 2. Sit with computer 3. Read books 4. Other_

Questionnaire How much time do you spend on computer? _ hours per day How 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 _

Questionnaire Do you depend on computer? 1. I’m addicted on computer 2. I use it wisely 3. It doesn’t matter 4. Other____

Questionnaire Think 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.

Questionnaire During 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

Questionnaire Think 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.

Questionnaire During 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

Questionnaire How 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

Questionnaire During 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

Questionnaire During 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 analyses Data analyses has been performed using SPSS Independent variable – hours spent on computer Dependant variable – physical activity, Time spent sitting

Results age hours days sitting N valid missing Mean STD. Deviation Minimum Maximum

Data analyses Results: There is no correlation between excessive usage of computer and physical activity r= p >.05

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