Associations between sedentary behavior and self-esteem in adolescent girls from schools in low-income communities

BackgroundExcessive time spent in sedentary behavior is associated with a range of physiological, psychosocial and behavioral health concerns in youth.ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study was to examine the association between sedentary behavior and self-esteem among adolescent girls living in low-income communities.MethodsParticipants were 357 girls [mean age (standard deviation) = 13.2 (0.5) years] from 12 secondary schools located in low-income communities in New South Wales, Australia. Height, weight, body fat (bio-electrical impedance analysis) and physical activity (accelerometers), self-esteem were assessed.ResultsSignificant inverse associations were found between self-esteem and time spent watching DVDs and using the computer for non-school purposes, but no relationship was found between TV viewing and self-esteem. The relationship between sedentary time (%) from accelerometers and self-esteem was not significant.ConclusionsSedentary behavior is a pervasive public health concern and time spent in specific screen-based recreation was associated with self-esteem in adolescent girls living in low-income communities. Our findings are indicative of the complex nature of these relationships and reveal a need for further longitudinal and intervention-based research in the field.

► Self-esteem was inversely related to time spent watching DVDs and using the computer.
► Objectively measured sedentary behavior was not associated with self-esteem.
► TV viewing was not associated with self-esteem in adolescent girls.