The association between use of electronic media and prevalence of headache in adolescents: results from a population-based cross-sectional study

Background: Use of electronic media, i.e. mobile phones, computers,
television, game consoles or listening to music, is very common,
especially amongst adolescents. There is currently a debate about
whether frequent use of these media might have adverse effects on
health, especially on headaches, which are among the most-reported
health complaints in adolescents. The aim of the present study was
to assess associations between frequent use of electronic media and
the prevalence of different types of headache in adolescents.
Methods: Data were derived from a population-based sample (n =
1,025, ages 13-17 years). Type of headache (i.e. migraine,
tension-type headache, unclassifiable headache) was ascertained by
standardized questionnaires for subjects reporting headache
episodes at least once per month during the last six months.
Duration of electronic media use was assessed during personal
interviews. Associations were estimated with logistic regression
models adjusted for age group, sex, family condition and
socio-economic status. Results: Most of the adolescents used
computers (85%), watched television (90%) or listened to music
(90%) daily, otherwise only 23% of the participants used their
mobile phones and only 25% played with game consoles on a daily
basis. A statistically significant association between listening to
music and any headache (odds ratio 1.8; 95% confidence interval
1.1-3.1 for 30 minutes per day, 2.1; 1.2-3.7 for 1 to 2 hours per
day; 2.0; 1.2-3.5 for 3 hours and longer listening to music per
day) was observed. When stratifying for type of headache, no
statistically significant association was seen. Conclusions: Apart
from an association between listening to music on a daily basis and
overall headache, no consistent associations between the use of
electronic media and different types of headache were observed.