A latent class analysis on adolescents media use and associations with health related quality of life

Purpose: Recent studies linked adolescents' media use to a variety of physical, psychological and social impairments. However, research neglected that adolescents' media use is complex and includes various combinations of activities such as mobile internet browsing, calling, online gaming or use of social network sites. Methods: The aim of this study is to use latent class analysis in a sample 895 Swiss adolescents to classify different media usage types based on eleven media use variables. Subsequently, associations of these classes with health related quality of life (HRQoL) as measured by the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire were assessed using multivariable regression models adjusted for relevant confounding factors. Results: Five distinct media use classes could be identified: Low Use, Medium Use, Gaming, Call Preference and High Social Use. The Low Use class reported highest and the High Social Use class lowest HRQoL on the KIDSCREEN scales Moods and Emotions (mean adjusted scores: 55.1 (95%Cl: 53.8; 57.0) vs. 49.1 (47.5; 50.7)), Self-Perception (51.8 (50.3; 53.3) vs. 48.0 (46.7; 49.28), Parents and Home Life (53.3 (51.7; 54.9) vs. 48.6 (47.2; 50.0)) and School Environment (52.7 (51.3; 54.0) vs. 49.3 (48.2; 50.7)). On the subscale Social Support and Peers the pattern was reversed. The Low Use class indicated least and the High Social Use class most well-being (48.5 (47.0; 50.0) vs. 53.8 (52.4; 55.3)). Conclusions: Latent class analyses is a fruitful approach to differentiate between various media usage types and is expected to better characterize and evaluate potential causal associations between media use and HRQoL. 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.