Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CSUN community has transitioned to an online environment. While a more sedentary lifestyle can lead to musculoskeletal discomfort, it is unknown whether the increased screen time contributes to this physical discomfort. This study investigated the relationship between discomfort in various regions of the body and variables related to screen time, user demographics, and visual acuity. Participants (n = 515) completed our survey online. We hypothesized that the number of hours of screen-time would be a significant predictor of pain with no association to demographics of age and sex. Contrary to expectations, we found that screen time was not a significant predictor of pain. Further, age did significantly predict shoulder and hip/thigh pain. Interestingly, the user engagement levels during video conference meetings significantly predicted hip/thigh pain, suggesting posture may contribute to discomfort.
Alex Krause
Alumni
