Abstract

Background: Screen use, sedentary behavior, body mass index (BMI), and sleep are plausible correlates of psychological well-being in university students, but their independent associations and possible gender differences remain inconsistent across studies. Methods: This cross-sectional survey included 49 university students recruited by convenience sampling at a single institution (36 men, 13 women; mean age 20.23 ± 2.06 years). Screen time and daily sitting time were self-reported in ordered categories and coded using category midpoints. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Psychological well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. A study-specific sleep-quality composite was derived from sleep duration, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance items. Associations were examined using Pearson and Spearman correlations, Welch independent-samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. Results: Screen time (r = −0.092, p = 0.531), sitting time (r = −0.018, p = 0.902), and BMI (r = −0.031, p = 0.836) were not significantly associated with WHO-5 well-being. The study-specific sleep-quality composite showed a positive bivariate association with well-being (r = 0.346, p = 0.015), although its internal consistency was poor (Cronbach’s α = 0.24). No statistically significant gender differences were detected for screen time, sitting time, BMI, sleep quality, or well-being (all p > 0.29). The screen time × gender interaction was not significant (B = −3.58, SE = 6.56, 95% CI [−16.80, 9.64], p = 0.588). The multivariable model was not significant overall (R² = 0.136, p = 0.275); sleep quality was the only individual coefficient reaching p < 0.05 (B = 0.693, p = 0.032). An exploratory uncorrected inverse association between screen time and BMI was observed (r = −0.320, p = 0.027). Conclusion: In this small, gender-imbalanced sample, there was no statistically significant evidence that screen time, sedentary sitting time, or BMI were associated with psychological well-being. Findings concerning sleep quality and the exploratory screen time–BMI association require cautious interpretation because of measurement limitations, multiple testing, and limited statistical power.

Keywords

Screen Time, Sedentary Behavior, Body Mass Index, Sleep Quality, Psychological Well-Being, University Students,

References

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