THE RELATIONSHIP OF SCREEN ADDICTION WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE, BALANCE, CIRCADIAN RHYTHM, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between screen addiction and physical activity, physical performance, balance, circadian rhythm, and quality of life (QoL) in children. Sixty-eight children who were aged 8-12 years included in the study was assessed with the Screen Addiction Problematic Media Use Scale, the Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Six-Minute Walk Test, the 5 Repetition Sit to Stand Test, the Sit and Reach Test, the Vertical Jump Test, the Flamingo Bal- ance Test, the Tandem Walking Test, the Daily Rhythm Scale for Children, and the Children's QoL Scale. There was no significant relationship between screen addic- tion and physical activity, physical performance, bal- ance, circadian rhythm and QoL. While there is a posi- tive statistically significant relationship $(r_s=0.350; p<0.01 and r_s=294; p<0.05, respectively)$ between screen time and problematic media use, there is a nega- tive statistical correlation between screen addiction and physical activity and circadian rhythm $(r_s=-0.281; p<0.05 and r_s=-272; p<0.05, respectively)$. The func- tional muscle strength of the lower extremities decrease with the increase in screen addiction (p<0.05). In con- clusion, physical activity levels decrease as the duration of digital screen usage increases. Considering that screen addiction reduces lower extremity functional muscle strength, it is important to encourage children to physical activity. In addition, the increase in the QoL as the screen usage time increases, and the fact that the average daily device usage time is low in the children included in the study, suggests that the children use technological devices efficiently. The increase in QoL may have positively affected the circadian rhythm.