BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior is a well-established risk factor for poor health outcomes. As screen-time becomes more prevalent, it is important to examine the characteristics of internet users and the association between this media type and health.
METHODS: This study used secondary data from the 2014 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This is the first year Texas included questions regarding technology use to estimate the number of hours per week residents spent on the internet during the previous 30 days. Internet use was categorized as no internet use, < 20 hours per week, and ≥ 20 hours per week. Four Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) measures were also assessed (fair/poor self-reported health, unhealthy physical days, unhealthy mental days, and limited activity). The relationship between internet use and HRQOL was tested and compared across racial/ethnic groups using chi-square as well as logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, and education.
RESULTS: No internet use in the last 30 days was significantly higher among Hispanics (37.0%) and non-Hispanic blacks (27.9%) compared to non-Hispanic whites (14.0%) as was self-reported fair/poor health (Hispanics 27.8%, non-Hispanic Blacks 24.6%, non-Hispanic Whites 15.6%). No significant differences were seen across race/ethnicity for the other HRQOL indicators. Those using the internet 20 or more hours per week had lower odds of reporting fair/poor health compared to those not online (OR = 0.49 [95% CI 0.33, 0.72). This difference was significant among Hispanics (OR = 0.44 [95% CI 0.22, 0.86]) and non-Hispanic blacks (OR = 0.15 [95% CI 0.03, 0.66). Texas adults who were online 20 or more hours per week had significantly lower odds of reporting unhealthy days (physical, mental, and limited activity) compared to those not using the internet with significant differences among non-Hispanic blacks (physical OR = 0.01 [95% CI 0.00, 0.05]; limited activity OR = 0.03 [95% CI (0.00, 0.22]) and non-Hispanic whites (physical OR = 0.45 [95% CI 0.26, 0.78]; mental OR = 0.46 [95% CI 0.22, 096); and limited activity OR = 0.42 [95% CI 0.19, 0.91]).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that internet use is associated with lower odds of poor HRQOL measures overall and by race/ethnicity. The use of technology may enhance one’s well-being or perhaps those who are of better health are more likely to use this type of media. Further research should investigate this association closer, taking advantage of the additional questions in the technology module of the Texas BRFSS.