Screen Time and Headaches among Undergraduate Adolescents in Rivers State: A Menace of the Digital Epoch
Gabriel-Job Nneka
Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Wobo Kininyiruchi N *
Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The widespread use of digital technologies has led to increased screen exposure among adolescents, raising concerns about their potential health implications. Prolonged screen time has been associated with various adverse outcomes, including obesity, problems with cognition, sleep disorders, and, particularly, headaches. This study aimed to examine the relationship between screen time habits and headaches among undergraduate adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adolescents aged 16–19 years from the Department of Computer Science, University of Port Harcourt. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Participants were selected using a systematic sampling technique. SPSS version 25 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistic was done while bivariate logistic regression was carried out to identify associations between screen time habits and headache occurrence.
Results: Of the 400 respondents, 235 (58.7%) were aged 18–19 years, and 282 (70.5%) were male. One hundred and ninety two (45%) participants reported initiating active screen use before the age of 15 years. The prevalence of headaches was 298 (74.5%), with tension headache as the most common type of primary headache among the participants. Statistically significant risk factors for headaches included male sex (OR 1.8, p= 0.01, 95% CI 1.13-2.29); screen use frequency (OR=0.21, p= 0.01, 95% CI 0.13-0.34); and type of device used by the adolescent (OR 2.3, p= < 0.001, 95% CI 1.55-4.21). While taking regular screen breaks (OR = 0.02, p< 0.001, 95% CI: 0.01–0.06) and duration of daily screen time of less than 6 hours (OR = 0.13, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.07–0.25) were found to be reduce the likelihood of recurrent headaches.
Conclusion: Primary headache is common among adolescent undergraduates, with the tension type being the most common. Increased screen time use is a risk factor for recurrent headaches. Interventions targeted at creating awareness in the schools on healthy screen time use and public health initiatives are necessary to reduce the untoward health effects of excessive screen time exposure among adolescents in universities.
Keywords: Screen time, habit, headaches, adolescents, digital epoch, sleep disorders