The elasticity of time: associations between physical activity and use of time in adolescents

Health Educ Behav. 2012 Dec;39(6):732-6. doi: 10.1177/1090198111429822. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Abstract

The way an individual uses one's time can greatly affect his or her health. The purpose of this article was to examine the cross-sectional cross-elasticity relationships for use of time domains in a sample of Australian adolescents. This study analyzed 24-hour recall time use data collected using the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults (N = 2,200). Using simple linear regression, the authors calculated the difference in time devoted to a reference activity (i.e., screen time, sleep, or social) given 1 hour extra in the time devoted to a criterion activity (i.e., physical activity). The most elastic activities were screen time and school-related time. Every additional hour committed to physical activity was associated with 32 minutes less screen time. This relationship was more pronounced in obese adolescents (-56 minutes screen time) compared with normal (-31 minutes) and overweight (-27 minutes) adolescents. Promising behavior patterns exist, with screen time appearing as a highly elastic behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Overweight / psychology*
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Television
  • Time Factors
  • Video Games