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Trends and Behavioral Correlates of Excessive Screen Time Among Swedish Adolescents: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study (2017–2023)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • Mean weekday after-school screen time decreased modestly between 2017 and 2023, while high levels of screen use remained common. • Shorter sleep duration and substance use, particularly alcohol use, were associated with higher overall screen time across survey waves. • Higher physical activity and longer sleep duration were consistently associated with lower use across screen modalities. • Risk behaviors were most strongly associated with social media use, with weaker and more heterogeneous associations observed for gaming and film/TV viewing. • Screen-use correlates differed by modality, underscoring the importance of distinguishing between gaming, social media, and film/TV use in adolescent research. The present repeated cross-sectional design study examined the trends and behavioral correlates of excessive screen time among Swedish adolescents across 2017 and 2023. Specifically, this study examined 1) temporal trends of variables used, 2) correlates of pooled excessive screen time, and 3) correlates of specific screen modalities (gaming, social media, and film/TV viewing). Data were collected from n=8,300 upper secondary school students in Jönköping County (n=2,319 in 2017; n=3,056 in 2020; n=2,925 in 2023). Measures included risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol, smoking), physical activity, psychosocial trust, family support, exposure to violence, life satisfaction, sleep duration, psychosomatic symptoms, and absenteeism. General linear models (GLM; UNIANOVA) regressions were conducted, adjusting for relevant covariates. Mean screen time decreased, although the prevalence of excessive screen time (>3 hours/weekday after school) remained high over time. Alcohol use, shorter sleep duration, smoking, higher psychosomatic symptoms, school absenteeism were associated with higher pooled screen time while being a female, living with both parents, and having physical activity were associated with lower pooled screen time. Shorter sleep duration, living with both parents, higher physical activity, and school absenteeism were consistently associated with all the modalities (i.e., film/TV, gaming, and social media). The correlates of pooled screen time and more especially shorter sleep duration, living with both parents, higher physical activity, and school absenteeism are important factors for moderating screen time adolescents. These findings highlight the need for parents, researchers, and health professionals to explore and moderate digital media use among adolescents.

Source: Addictive Behaviors Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2026.100672