Joint physical activity and screen time patterns in relation to mental health and sleep among university students: A systematic review with exploratory quantitative synthesis.

J Affect DisordApr 28, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry

Wei Gao, Zhiheng Li, Ming Li

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review examined the relationship between joint patterns of physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) on mental health and sleep among university students. The analysis included 55 studies, with six providing quantitative data. Higher PA and lower ST were associated with better mental health outcomes, while lower PA and higher ST correlated with poorer outcomes. Notably, higher PA and lower ST were linked to lower odds of anxiety (OR = 0.64), depression (OR = 0.46), and poor sleep (OR = 0.54).

Key findings

  • Higher PA combined with lower ST was associated with better mental health and sleep.
  • Lower PA and higher ST correlated with less favorable mental health outcomes.
  • HPA-LST was linked to lower odds of anxiety (OR = 0.64).
  • HPA-LST was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.46) and poor sleep (OR = 0.54).

Why it matters

Understanding the interplay between physical activity and screen time is crucial for addressing mental health and sleep issues in university students, a population at risk for these challenges. This knowledge can inform interventions aimed at improving overall well-being.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42061519

Published in J Affect Disord. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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