The explanatory role of sedentary screen time and obesity in the increase of chronic back pain amongst European adolescents: The HBSC study 2002-2014

Identifier:  imarina:9267445

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9267445

Authors:  Roman-Juan, Josep; Roy, Ruben; Jensen, Mark P; Miro, Jordi

Abstract:
Previous research has shown that chronic back pain among European adolescents is increasing. Determining the factors associated with this increasing trend is crucial for developing prevention strategies. In this study, we used data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey to examine whether increases in screen time and/or obesity between 2002 and 2014 were associated with the increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain among European adolescents during the twelve-year period.Data from 423,092 adolescents from 27 European countries/regions were drawn from the HBSC questionnaire-based surveys conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. The Karlson-Holm-Breen method was used to examine the explanatory role of increases in screen time and obesity on the increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain while controlling for sex and age.Increases in both screen time and obesity between 2002 and 2014 were associated with increases in the prevalence of chronic back pain (p < .001). The percent of chronic back pain prevalence increase accounted for by screen time and obesity were 3.98% and 1.65%, respectively.The increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain among European adolescents may be explained, in part, by the rising trends in both sedentary screen time and obesity. The fact that screen time and obesity only accounted for a small part of the increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain indicates that other unmeasured factors also play a role.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.