Last updated on 5-12-2024 by Laïla Boulbayem
Why do we study screen time in older adults?
- Screen time refers to the time spent seated in front of screens (e.g., televisions, computers, or mobile devices) for activities that are not related to work or educational levels.
- Studying screen time is important because it can be an important part of an individual’s sedentary behavior. Excessive screen time can negatively impact physical health, mental well-being, sleep patterns, and physical activity levels.
- In older adults, understanding screen time is particularly important, as excessive screen use can exacerbate age-related health issues. Studying this can help develop strategies to promote healthier, more active lifestyles.
How do we do it?
- Screen time was examined by a self-report questionnaire investigating the following two aspects of screen use, separately for week and weekend days.
- Daily time spent sitting or lying down watching films, videos, series, or playing video games during leisure time.
- Daily time spent sitting or lying down using a computer, tablet, or smartphone during leisure time.
- Respondents were asked to select between the following categories: ‘1 to 15 minutes per day’, ‘15 to 30 minutes per day’, ‘30 to 60 minutes per day’, ‘1 to 2 hours per day’, ‘2 to 3 hours per day’, ‘3 to 4 hours per day’, ‘4 to 5 hours per day’, ‘5 to 6 hours per day’, ‘6 to 7 hours per day’, ‘More than 7 hours per day’.
- For week and weekend days separately, the categories of the two questions were summed and recategorized as ‘Less than 2 hours per day’, ‘Between 2 – 4 hours per day’, ‘Between 4 – 8 hours per day’, ‘More than 8 hours per day’.
- To indicate high screen time, a cut-off point was established at four hours per day or more.
- Although questionnaires have many advantages, they also have limitations. It is difficult to accurately assess screen time because people often struggle to accurately evaluate their own screen time. In this case, screen time was measured using categories rather than precise durations. Additionally, screens can be used simultaneously, leading to overestimations of actual screen time (e.g., using a smartphone while watching a film). This issue, combined with factors such as forgetfulness and a desire to provide socially acceptable answers, can contribute to inaccuracies in reported screen time.
Key results
Almost half of older adults report four hours or more of daily screen time.
A larger proportion of older men report four hours or more of daily screen time compared to older women.
The proportion of older adults reporting four hours or more of daily screen time on weekends is lower among older adults with high-educational levels compared to those with low-educational levels.
The proportion of adults reporting four hours or more of daily screen time is higher in Brussels and Flanders compared to Wallonia.
Sex
Proportion of older adults aged 65 years and above reporting four hours or more of daily screen time on week and weekend days, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
- On both weekdays and weekend days, a higher proportion of men report at least four hours of daily screen time (55% on weekdays, 57% on weekend days) compared to women (42% on weekdays, 39% on weekend days).
- Overall, a greater proportion of older adults report four hours or more of daily screen time compared to young (aged 18 to 39 years) and middle-aged (aged 40 to 64 years) adults. See more results.
Educational level
Proportion of older adults aged 65 years and above reporting four hours or more of daily screen time on week and weekend days, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
- On weekdays, there is no difference based on educational level in the proportion of older adults reporting four hours or more of daily screen time.
- On weekend days, the proportion of older adults reporting four hours or more of daily screen time is lower among those with high-educational levels (38%) compared to those with low-educational levels (50%).
Region
Proportion of older adults aged 65 years and above reporting four hours or more of daily screen time on week and weekend days, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
- Both on weekdays and weekend days, the proportion of older adults reporting more than four hours of daily screen time is higher in Brussels (respectively 51% and 50%) and Flanders (respectively 51% and 50%) than in Wallonia (respectively 40% and 39%).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in older adults: Screen time, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, December 2024, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/physical-activity-and-sedentary-behaviour-older-adults/screen-time-adults-aged-65-years-and-older