Interactive Effects of Neighborhood Safety and Screen Time on Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: PS 12 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

Approximately 50% of mental disorders present by mid-adolescence, making this developmental period a time of significant risk (Kessler et al., 2007). Anxiety and depression in youth are linked to a myriad of negative outcomes including higher levels of sedentary behavior (Vancampfort et al., 2018) and screen time (Maras et al., 2015) and can lead to persisting mental health concerns in adulthood. Due to the sequalae of negative outcomes associated with these behaviors, research has emphasized identifying risk and protective factors of adolescent psychosocial adjustment, including the neighborhood context (Fowler et al., 2009) and individual behaviors such as screen use (Maras et al., 2015). Screen time may act as a potential coping mechanism by which the effects of neighborhood safety on psychosocial adjustment are altered. Yet, research has not investigated screen time as a moderator of the relationship between neighborhood safety and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Based on previous research, we hypothesized (1) Residing in a neighborhood one perceives as unsafe would predict higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms; (2) Increased screen time would be associated with increased anxiety and depressive symptoms; and (3) High levels of screen time would exacerbate the effect of living in an unsafe neighborhood on anxiety and depressive symptoms. One hundred eighty-four adolescents, 53% female and with an average age of 17.09 years (SD = 1.07), were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a metropolitan area in the Southeastern US. Participants reported their perceptions of neighborhood safety, screen use, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and demographic characteristics. Hierarchical linear regressions tested the independent and interactive effects of neighborhood safety and screen time on adolescent anxiety and depression. Simple slope analyses were performed to probe any significant interactions. Lower perceptions of neighborhood safety and higher levels of screen time each uniquely predicted adolescent anxiety and depressive symptoms (Table 1). High levels of screen time moderated the effect of living in a neighborhood perceived as unsafe on anxiety symptoms, such that lower perceived neighborhood safety was associated with higher levels of anxiety for adolescents with high levels, but not low levels, of screen time (Figure 1). There was no significant moderating effect of screen time for depressive symptoms. Findings suggest youth residing in unsafe neighborhoods may be at an increased risk of anxiety symptoms, and this anxiety symptomology is amplified by high levels of screen time. The findings of the present study represent a need to increase perceived neighborhood safety. Additionally, identifying adolescents at risk of poor psychosocial adjustment due to a lack of perceived neighborhood safety presents a valuable opportunity to intervene in this critical developmental period. Interventions could focus on teaching adolescents healthy coping skills that may reduce their negative feelings toward their environment. Future research should evaluate this relationship longitudinally, and with content-specific forms of screen use.

Authors

• Bria Gresham, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Presenting Author

• Benjamin McManus, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  Non-Presenting Author

• Despina Stavrinos, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  Non-Presenting Author