Abstract: The study assessed television viewing >2 h a day and its association with sedentary
behaviors, self-rated health, and academic performance among secondary school adolescents.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected students in Lima in 2015.
We measured self-reported responses of students using a standard questionnaire, and conducted
in-depth interviews with 10 parents and 10 teachers. Chi-square test, correlation and multivariate
logistic regression analysis were performed among 1234 students, and thematic analysis technique
was used for qualitative information. A total of 23.1% adolescents reported watching television
>2 h a day. Qualitative findings also show that adolescents spend most of their leisure time
watching television, playing video games or using the Internet. Television viewing had a significant
positive correlation with video game use in males and older adolescents, with Internet use in
both sexes, and a negative correlation with self-rated health and academic performance in females.
Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that television viewing >2 h a day, independent of
physical activity was associated with video games use >2 h a day, Internet use >2 h a day, poor/fair
self-rated health and poor self-reported academic performance. Television viewing time and sex
had a significant interaction effect on both video game use >2 h a day and Internet use >2 h a day.
Reducing television viewing time may be an effective strategy for improving health and academic
performance in adolescents.
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