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Physical Activity Moderates the Relationship between Screen Time and Body Dissatisfaction in Early Adulthood

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Title: Physical Activity Moderates the Relationship between Screen Time and Body Dissatisfaction in Early Adulthood
Language: English
Authors: Rachel Surprenant (ORCID 0009-0001-2343-1271), David Bezeau (ORCID 0000-0002-4563-3691), Isabelle Cabot (ORCID 0000-0003-1713-0015), Jonathan Smith (ORCID 0000-0002-6451-783X), Hyoun S. Kim, Caroline Fitzpatrick (ORCID 0000-0002-9439-042X)
Source: Health Education & Behavior. 2026 53(3):278-285.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Physical Activity Level, Physical Activities, Computer Use, Television Viewing, Human Body, Self Concept, Young Adults, College Students, Individual Characteristics, Foreign Countries, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Disabilities, Employment Level
Geographic Terms: Canada
DOI: 10.1177/10901981251387139
ISSN: 1090-1981
1552-6127
Abstract: The transition to adulthood is a vulnerable period for the development of body image issues, which can increase the risk of behavioral disorders such as body dysmorphic and eating disorders. This study explored whether adherence to physical activity guidelines moderates the association between recreational screen time and body dissatisfaction in early adulthood. A sample of 1,475 young adults (mean age 18.81 years, 60.9% female) from 17 French-speaking public colleges in Quebec, Canada, completed self-report questionnaires in Fall 2021 and Winter 2022. Participants reported their daily recreational screen time, engagement in physical activity over the past 3 months, and sociodemographic characteristics. The analysis, based on multivariate linear regression, showed that higher screen time was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, but this relationship was weaker among participants who met the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines. These findings suggest that adherence to physical activity guidelines may buffer the negative effects of recreational screen time on body dissatisfaction in young adults, highlighting the value of promoting physical activity in interventions aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504295
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Physical Activity Moderates the Relationship between Screen Time and Body Dissatisfaction in Early Adulthood
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+Surprenant%22">Rachel Surprenant</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2343-1271">0009-0001-2343-1271</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+Bezeau%22">David Bezeau</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4563-3691">0000-0002-4563-3691</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Isabelle+Cabot%22">Isabelle Cabot</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1713-0015">0000-0003-1713-0015</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jonathan+Smith%22">Jonathan Smith</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6451-783X">0000-0002-6451-783X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hyoun+S%2E+Kim%22">Hyoun S. Kim</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Caroline+Fitzpatrick%22">Caroline Fitzpatrick</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9439-042X">0000-0002-9439-042X</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+%26+Behavior%22"><i>Health Education & Behavior</i></searchLink>. 2026 53(3):278-285.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Activity+Level%22">Physical Activity Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Activities%22">Physical Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Use%22">Computer Use</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Television+Viewing%22">Television Viewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Body%22">Human Body</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Adults%22">Young Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disabilities%22">Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment+Level%22">Employment Level</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/10901981251387139
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  Data: 1090-1981<br />1552-6127
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  Data: The transition to adulthood is a vulnerable period for the development of body image issues, which can increase the risk of behavioral disorders such as body dysmorphic and eating disorders. This study explored whether adherence to physical activity guidelines moderates the association between recreational screen time and body dissatisfaction in early adulthood. A sample of 1,475 young adults (mean age 18.81 years, 60.9% female) from 17 French-speaking public colleges in Quebec, Canada, completed self-report questionnaires in Fall 2021 and Winter 2022. Participants reported their daily recreational screen time, engagement in physical activity over the past 3 months, and sociodemographic characteristics. The analysis, based on multivariate linear regression, showed that higher screen time was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, but this relationship was weaker among participants who met the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines. These findings suggest that adherence to physical activity guidelines may buffer the negative effects of recreational screen time on body dissatisfaction in young adults, highlighting the value of promoting physical activity in interventions aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1504295
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        Value: 10.1177/10901981251387139
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      – SubjectFull: Physical Activity Level
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