Top 5 Takeaways
- Higher Fatigue in Adolescents: In 2020, 10.9% of adolescents aged 12–17 years reported being tired most days or every day, compared to 3.5% of children aged 5–11 years.
- Screen Time Impact: Among adolescents aged 12–17, those who reported more than 2 hours of screen time per weekday were more likely to report being tired (12.0%) compared to those with 2 hours or less (6.5%).
- Children’s Fatigue Unaffected by Screen Time: For children aged 5–11 years, the percentage reporting being tired did not significantly differ by screen time (3.6% for >2 hours vs. 3.5% for ≤2 hours).
- Age-Related Fatigue Differences: Regardless of screen time, adolescents aged 12–17 years were more likely to report being tired on most days or every day than children aged 5–11 years.
- Survey Basis: The findings are based on household interviews from the National Health Interview Survey, representing the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.
Original Article Author and Citation
Corresponding Author
Cynthia Reuben, MA, creuben@cdc.gov, 301-458-4458; Nazik Elgaddal, MS.
Suggested Citation
Summary
In 2020, a higher percentage of adolescents aged 12–17 years reported being tired most days or every day compared to children aged 5–11 years. The likelihood of reporting fatigue was higher among adolescents who spent more than 2 hours of screen time per weekday, excluding schoolwork. In contrast, screen time did not significantly affect the fatigue levels of children aged 5–11 years.
Methods
The data were derived from the National Health Interview Survey, which involved household interviews of a sample representing the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Fatigue was assessed based on responses to questions about how often the child complained of being tired during a typical school week and the amount of screen time spent on weekdays, excluding schoolwork.
Discussion
The findings indicate a significant association between screen time and fatigue among adolescents but not among younger children. This suggests that interventions to reduce screen time might be particularly beneficial for adolescents to help mitigate fatigue. The age-related differences in fatigue prevalence could be due to various factors, including developmental changes and differing daily routines between younger children and adolescents.
Conclusion
Adolescents are more likely to report being tired most days or every day compared to younger children, with screen time being a contributing factor. Strategies to manage screen time could be important in addressing fatigue among adolescents.
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