Examining communication- and media-based recreational sedentary behaviors among Canadian youth: Results from the COMPASS study

- Youth averaged 494 (± 313) min/day of recreational sedentary behavior per day.
- 96.7% of the sample exceeded the sedentary behavior guideline.
- Time spent in recreational sedentary behaviors did not vary by grade.
- Time spent in recreational sedentary behaviors varied by gender.
- Communication-based media can be a large negative health issue for youth.

ObjectivesTo examine the prevalence of different communication- and media-based sedentary behaviors and examine how they are associated with modifiable risk behaviors and key demographic correlates among a large sample of youth.MethodsData from 23,031 grade 9 to grade 12 students in Year 1 (2012-2013) of the COMPASS study (Canada) were used to examine the prevalence of sedentary behaviors by gender and by grade. The between-school variance in sedentary behaviors was calculated and models were developed to examine how modifiable risk factors and demographic correlates were associated with sedentary behaviors.ResultsYouth averaged 494 (± 313) min/day of sedentary behavior and 96.7% of the sample exceeded the sedentary behavior guidelines of no more than 2 h per day. Significant between-school random variation in the sedentary behaviors was identified. Substance use, weight status, ethnicity, and gender were the main predictors of the sedentary behaviors examined.ConclusionsThe vast majority of youth in the COMPASS sample are considered highly sedentary. The evidence clearly suggests we need to develop more effective methods of intervening, that school-based programming is warranted, and that gender-specific programming may be required.