Objective/background

Adolescence is a crucial time period in which individuals are at high risk for depression and anxiety. Associations between screen time and adolescent depression and anxiety have been inconclusive. We examined 1) the associations of screen time with adolescent depression and anxiety and 2) whether sleep duration mediates these relationships.

Methods

This study utilized data from the 2018 US. National Survey of Children's Health, a large cross-sectional population representative dataset with parent/caregiver responses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between screen time and depression and anxiety in separate models. Path models were used to test the mediating role of sleep duration. Confounders, as sex, age, and sociodemographic variables were included in our adjusted models.

Results

Data of 10,907 adolescents aged 13 to 17 were included in this study. The average screen time was 3.76 h daily. Compared to no screen time, adolescents who used over 4 h of screen time per day had higher odds of depression (OR = 2.23, 95% CI:1.27-3.91) and anxiety (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.26-2.72). Sleep duration did not mediate the associations between screen time and depression and anxiety.

Conclusions

Further research is necessary to examine the associations of screen time content with depression and anxiety, as well as the effects of sleep quality in conjunction with sleep duration on the relationships of screen time and depression and anxiety.

Objective

To compare symptoms of depression, maternal adjustment, and perceived stress in late adolescent and young adult mothers and to examine the patterns of these symptoms during the first 3 months after birth.

Design

Secondary analysis of existing longitudinal data.

Setting

San Francisco Bay Area, with participants in their home environments.

Participants

Ethnically diverse women expecting their first infants recruited during the third trimester from childbirth education classes and antenatal clinics. The final sample included 34 participants in the late adolescent group (18-20 years) and 48 participants in the young adult group (21-24 years).

Methods

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depression symptoms, the Maternal Adjustment and Maternal Attitudes Scale was used to assess maternal adjustment, and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess perceived stress. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to examine changes over time in depression, maternal adjustment, and perceived stress scores.

Results

Compared with young adult participants, late adolescent participants had greater mean depression scores (F_{(1, 61)} = 8.02, p = .006) and perceived stress scores (F_{(1, 62)} = 9.45, p = .003) at all time points. Scores for maternal adjustment could not be compared because of the low internal validity of the instrument.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that late adolescent mothers may have more symptoms of depression and stress in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period than young adult mothers. Clinicians in maternity and pediatric settings should be vigilant in screening for depression and stress in this vulnerable population during their transitions to motherhood.