Poster #91 - Using Screen-Based Activity Profiles to Predict Body Image Difficulties in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 07

Abstract

Preschoolers typically spend time on educational screen-based activities, but by primary school age there is a transition to other types of activities (Anderson et al., 2017). Indeed, TV shows, video games, and social media are the most common activities for youth starting around the age of 8 (Brisson-Boivin, 2018). Increased screen time is associated with body image concerns in adolescents (Jiotsa et al., 2021), though less is known about children. Given that children’s screen time increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to school closures and home confinement (Jiao et al., 2020), it is important to examine what kinds of screen-based activity profiles put children at higher risk for developing body image difficulties. Using two samples, this study aimed to (a) identify and replicate profiles of screen-based activity users among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, (b) determine whether youth belonging to each of these profiles differ in terms of body image satisfaction and perception, and (c) examine age and gender as predictors.

Parents of 244 Canadian children aged between 7 and 12 years (123 girls, 121 boys; Mage = 9.04) and 954 Canadian adolescents aged between 14 to 17 years (487 girls, 449 boys, 14 nonbinary individuals; Mage = 15.90) from two separate studies completed an online questionnaire. Screen-based activities were measured using reports of the daily number of hours spent on (a) TV, movies, and videos, (b) social media, and (c) video/online games. Body satisfaction and perception were measured using age-appropriate, validated questionnaires.

Latent profile analyses indicated four profiles of children: 1) high users of all three forms of screen-based activity (6%), 2) high users of social media (14%), 3) moderate users of all three forms of activity (15%), and 4) users who do not use social media but used the other forms of activity moderately (66%). The four latent profiles were replicated in the adolescent sample with some slight developmental variations. The “no social media” profile was replaced by a “high video game users” profile. In both samples, high users were the most dissatisfied with their body image and perceived themselves as bigger than others. Children who did not have access to social media were younger, and boys were more likely to be high users than girls. Adolescent girls were more likely to be high social media users as well as moderate users whereas adolescent boys were more likely to be high users of video games and screen-based activities in general.

The results suggest that increased time on different screen-based activities is the most problematic profile for children and adolescents, especially boys. However, other predictors should be investigated as only high users of all form of screen-based activities (and not high social media users) were having body image concerns, which may disguise other underlying difficulties such as social withdrawal, peer rejection, and lack of parental supervision and support.

Authors

• Fanny-Alexandra Guimond, University of Ottawa
  Presenting Author

• Jacinthe Dion

• Elizabeth St. John, University of Ottawa

• Philip MacGregor, University of Ottawa