Screen time and self-perception: digital behaviours and body image among Polish adolescents

Abstract Background This study explores associations between screen use profiles, body image perception, and dieting behaviour among Polish adolescents. Excessive screen time, particularly on social media, may contribute to internalisation of unrealistic appearance ideals, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthy weight-control behaviours. Material and methods Data were collected online in 2021/22 as part of the HBSC study. The sample included 5322 adolescents aged 13, 15, and 17. Cluster analysis based on daily time spent on gaming, social media, videos, and browsing identified five screen use profiles: moderate users (C1, 40.1%), game-oriented (C2, 21.1%), social media-oriented (C3, 20.3%), intensive game/social media users (C4, 11.1%), and fully intensive users (C5, 7.4%). Body image, BMI, and dieting were self-reported. Results Adolescents in the most intensive screen use clusters (C3-C5) showed the highest prevalence of body dissatisfaction and dieting behaviour. For example, over half of users in C3, C4, and C5 perceived themselves as “too fat,” and active dieting reached 22.8% in C5. Regression analysis confirmed that higher media consumption-especially combined use of gaming and social media-was significantly associated with both negative body perception and dieting intentions (C5 OR for “too fat” = 2.06; OR for dieting = 1.81), independent of BMI. Conclusions Distinct screen use patterns are strongly linked to adolescent body image and dieting behaviours. Public health interventions should address not only screen time volume but also content type and usage patterns, with attention to age and gender differences. Key messages • Screen use patterns vary by gender and age and are linked to body image concerns. Tailored interventions must address not only time, but also content type and user profile to reduce dieting risks. • Intensive screen use, especially social media and gaming, is linked to body dissatisfaction and dieting among adolescents, independently of BMI, highlighting the need for content-aware interventions.