Abstract
BACKGROUND: Limited research has examined associations between a range of digital media use (DMU) behaviours and screen time measures with positive mental health (PMH) outcomes among Canadian adolescents. This study examined these associations among a large sample of Canadian youth. METHODS: We used self-reported data from youth aged 12-17 years in the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (N = 10,695). DMU behaviours included frequency of using social media, video/instant messaging and online gaming. Screen time included estimated hours spent watching content, playing video games and overall sedentary electronic device usage in the past week. PMH outcomes included self-rated mental health (SRMH), life satisfaction, happiness, autonomy, competence and relatedness. We conducted gender-stratified adjusted logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Girls reporting using social media constantly (vs. never or less than weekly) were less likely to report high SRMH, life satisfaction, happiness, autonomy and competence, while their video/instant messaging frequency was unrelated to PMH outcomes. Social media use and video/instant messaging frequency tended to be unrelated to PMH outcomes among boys (or positively associated at moderate levels in a few exceptions). Boys and girls reporting online gaming constantly (vs. never or less than weekly) were less likely to report high happiness, autonomy, competence and relatedness. Boys watching content for 14+ (vs. < 3) hours in the past week had lower odds of high SRMH, life satisfaction and happiness, while girls watching 7+ (vs. < 3) hours had lower odds of all PMH outcomes. Boys and girls reporting 21+ (vs. < 3) hours of overall sedentary electronic device use in the past week had lower odds of all PMH outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for a link between some DMU behaviours and screen time measures with lower PMH among Canadian youth. Findings can assist in the promotion of public health strategies targeted towards promoting reduced and/or non-problematic DMU and screen time, and improved well-being, as well as the continued surveillance of DMU, screen time and PMH outcomes among Canadian youth.