Increased computer use by adolescents linked to multiple-risk behaviours
April 26th, 2011 - 12:38 pm ICT by ANI“This research is based on social cognitive theory, which suggests that seeing people engaged in a
behaviour is a way of learning that behaviour,” says lead researcher and doctoral candidate in
School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Valerie Carson.
“Since adolescents are exposed to considerable screen time, over 4.5 hours on average each day,
they’re constantly seeing images of behaviours they can then potentially adopt,” he added.
The researchers also found that increased computer use is linked with, approximately, 50 pc
increased engagement with a cluster of six MRB. These include smoking, drunkenness, non-use of
seatbelts, cannabis, illicit drug use, and unprotected sex.
The study shows that high television viewing is also associated with a moderate increased
engagement in these MRB.
The fact that considerable amount of advertising that used to be shown on television, is now being
shown on the Internet, also supports the finding.
Furthermore, computer usage by adolescents has also significantly increased in recent years.
“TV and video games have more established protocols in terms of censorship, but Internet
protocols aren’t as established,” says Carson.
“Parents can make use of programs that control access to the Internet, but adolescents in this age
group are quite savvy about technology and the Internet,” he added.
The research has been published in the Journal of Preventative Medicine. (ANI)
- Excessive computer use spurs risky behaviour among teens - Apr 26, 2011
- TV viewing more risky for heart than using computers - Nov 17, 2011
- Internet addiction is like drugs: Study - Jan 12, 2012
- Energy drink intake may lead to alcohol dependence - Nov 17, 2010
- Brit drivers 'risking life by using Twitter, Facebook while driving' - Mar 20, 2011
- Understanding gene-environment interaction for a psychosis model - Aug 30, 2010
- Without dads boys go wild, girls unaffected - Nov 27, 2011
- Starting hormone therapy at menopause 'ups breast cancer risk' - Jan 29, 2011
- Watching TV, video and computer for hours can make teens fatter - Sep 21, 2010
- Watching TV linked to unhealthy eating - May 14, 2012
- Cannabis use 'leads to psychotic symptoms in teens, young adults' - Mar 02, 2011
- Teen drinking linked to higher internet use - May 10, 2011
- Alcohol, drug abuse test can predict risky teenage sexual behaviour - Oct 19, 2009
- Medvedev praises development of internet - Apr 19, 2012
- Differences in teen drunkenness declining across cultures, genders - Oct 05, 2010
Tags: adolescents, age group, censorship, computer usage, computer use, doctoral candidate, drunkenness, health studies, illicit drug use, internet protocols, kinesiology, mrb, preventative medicine, researcher, risk behaviours, screen time, social cognitive theory, television viewing, unprotected sex, valerie