Comprehensive Assessment and Support Program to Reduce Screen Time Related Health Risks in Adolescents.

The project will increase professional competence of human resources raising potential for high added value product development and leading to scientific evidence based knowledge. The project addresses topical issues of Latvian society, economy and science regarding quality of education. During last decade growing scientific evidence presented association of excessive screen time with health risks such as obesity, low cardiorespiratory fitness, inappropriate social and emotional development leading to decreased education performance in adolescents. However, limited research explored mechanisms of relationship between health and excessive screen time according its content and context of use. Also, few studies included adolescents with disability. This research aims to determine how subjectively and objectively measured physical activity and screen time modes are associated with academic performance and health risks in adolescents with and without disability. The set of valid and reliable assessments will provide education staff and parents with useful methods to define physical and mental health risks related to excessive screen time in adolescents. The intervention will include comprehensive educational support program developed according recent scientific evidence of the Social Learning and Self Regulation Theory. The project outcomes will increase scientific knowledge about problem solution of excessive screen time and health risks in different subgroups of adolescents.