Obesity Prevalence, Physical Activity, Screen Exposure and Psychological Well-Being: A Study on Early Adolescents

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

This study aimed to determine whether there were significant differences in body mass index, physical activity, screen exposure, and psychological well-being among early adolescents by gender, and to examine the relationships among these variables. A total of 216 middle school students with a mean age of 11.31 participated in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, and the results indicated that the data were normally distributed. Independent samples t-test results showed a significant difference in body mass index by gender (p<.05), while no significant differences were found between gender and physical activity, psychological well-being, or screen exposure (p>.05). The Pearson correlation test revealed a low negative correlation between physical activity and body mass index, and a low positive correlation between physical activity and psychological well-being. A low negative correlation was also found between screen exposure and psychological well-being. In conclusion, gender appears to be a significant factor influencing body mass index, and the correlation results may contribute to the literature on obesity prevention and treatment strategies. Moreover, it was observed that the number of early adolescents who are overweight or obese, have low physical activity and psychological well-being, or exceed the recommended screen exposure should not be underestimated.