The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Physical Activity Adequacy in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between physical activity levels and internet addiction in children. This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design with 242 students in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 attending a middle school in XXX. The researchers administered the “Physical Activity Adequacy Scale” and the “Internet Addiction Scale” to participants in person. The results indicated a negative correlation between age and physical activity levels, with statistical significance (r = −0.697, p = .002). The findings revealed that girls exhibited significantly higher levels of adequate physical activity compared to boys, as indicated by a significant t-value of 2.899 and a p-value of less than .001. As the grade level increased, there was a concomitant decrease in physical activity adequacy (F = 18.983, p < .001) and an increase in internet addiction (F = 3.186, p = .043). A significant positive correlation was identified between income and internet addiction scores among the study’s youth population. The factors that have been identified as significantly affecting physical activity adequacy include age, gender, the order in which children are born to a family, the parental education level, and internet addiction. In the multiple regression analysis, these variables were determined to be significant predictors of the model (Model 2: R² = 0.144, p < .001). This study is one of a limited number of studies that examine the relationship between childhood internet addiction and physical activity inadequacy from a multidimensional perspective, drawing on demographic, familial, and socioeconomic factors. The findings yielded significant data that will inform our understanding of children’s physical activity levels and digital habits. This understanding will, in turn, inform the development of individual, school, and family-based health interventions.