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Media use, sports activities, and motor fitness in childhood and adolescence

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Summary

Background

Physical activity is one of the key determinants of physical, mental, and social health of children and adolescents. Therefore, the early development of health-relevant behavior patterns is of high relevance.

Aim

To examine the impact of selected socioeconomic factors as well as media consumption, on sports activities and the motor skills of 10- to 14-year-old secondary school students.

Methods

Body height and body weight were measured. The motor skills were determined with the Deutschen Motorik Test (DMT 6‑18; German Motor Test). Information about media use, media equipment, recreational sports activities, migration status, and the parents’ profession was collected by means of a standardized questionnaire.

Results

A total of 391 adolescents have been tested (male 235; female 156). Body mass index (BMI) types are evenly distributed on gender. On a weekday, the pupils spend 10.3 h using media (SD ± 9.1 h). On weekends, media use increases up to 12 h per day on average (SD ± 9.7 h). The number of available media is independent from the age of the respondents and the social status of their families. According to bivariate correlations, heavy media use, a high BMI as well as migration status correlate negatively with both sports activities and motor skills. BMI seems to have the strongest influence on athletic performance (b = 0.41).

Conclusion

Media use is an important determinant of juvenile sports activity and motor performance, being part of a complex juvenile leisure behavior.

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Correspondence to Klaus Greier PD, PhD.

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S. Kaiser-Jovy, A. Scheu, and K. Greier declare that they have no competing interests.

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Kaiser-Jovy, S., Scheu, A. & Greier, K. Media use, sports activities, and motor fitness in childhood and adolescence. Wien Klin Wochenschr 129, 464–471 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-017-1216-9

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