Author(s): PANG, Y., JIANG, Q.B.1, JIANG, C.J.1,3, TAN, Z.Y.2 , Institution: 1 SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY 2 TIANJIN UNIVERSITY OF SPORT, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 653

INTRODUCTION:
This study aims to explore the association between physical activity (PA) levels and internet addiction (IA) among adolescents and children aged 8-19 years, clarify the relationship between different PA levels and the risk of IA, and provide reliable empirical evidence for the prevention and clinical intervention of IA.
METHODS:
A total of 2053 participants aged 8-19 years from the Health Brain Network (HBN) database[1] were included in this study. IA was assessed using the Parent-Child Internet Addiction Test (PCIAT)[2], with a severity impairment index (SII) >25 defined as IA (coded as 1) and a SII ≤25 as non-IA (coded as 0). The scores calculated by Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C)[3] are used to assess the physical activity level during the last 7 days. PA scores were grouped into four quartiles: Q1 (0.58~1.95), Q2 (1.96~2.47), Q3 (2.48~3.01), and Q4 (3.02~4.79). Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between PA levels and IA. Three models were established: Model 1 (crude model), Model 2 (adjusted for age, sex, and BMI category), and Model 3 (further adjusted for Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS)[4] group and sleep disorder[5]).
RESULTS:
Among the 2053 participants, 1055 (51.39%) were non-IA (coded as 0) and 998 (48.61%) were IA (coded as 1). Taking Q1 (the lowest PA level) as the reference group, Model 1 showed that the risk of IA was significantly lower in the Q3 group (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.53~0.87, P=0.002), while no significant differences were observed in the Q2 (OR=0.95, 95%CI: 0.75~1.22, P=0.707) and Q4 groups (OR=0.81, 95%CI: 0.63~1.03, P=0.092). After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI category (Model 2), the protective effect of Q3 on IA remained significant (OR=0.75, 95%CI: 0.58~0.97, P=0.031), and no significant associations were found in Q2 (OR=1.03, 95%CI: 0.80~1.32, P=0.829) and Q4 (OR=0.86, 95%CI: 0.67~1.11, P=0.247). Further adjustment for CGAS group and sleep disorder (Model 3) did not alter the significance of the association in Q3 (OR=0.76, 95%CI: 0.58~0.98, P=0.034), and Q2 (OR=1.02, 95%CI: 0.79~1.32, P=0.861) and Q4 (OR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.67~1.13, P=0.310) still had no significant association with IA.
CONCLUSION:
Moderate PA level (Q3, 2.48~3.01) is significantly associated with a reduced risk of IA in adolescents and children aged 8-19 years, and this association persists after adjusting for potential confounders. However, the highest PA level (Q4) does not exhibit a significant protective effect against IA, suggesting that moderate PA may be a feasible intervention strategy for preventing adolescent IA.

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