COVID-19 Adolescent Technology Use and Physical Activities: Cluster Analysis for Mental Health

Authors

Chunling Niu, University of the Incarnate WordFollow
Rui Jin, Shenzhen UniversityFollow
Ashley love, University of the Incarnate WordFollow
Sohelia Sadeghi, University of the Incarnate WordFollow
Loren Cossette, University of the Incarnate WordFollow
Marissa Molina, University of the Incarnate WordFollow

Abstract

This study examined how COVID-19 disrupted adolescent education, social interactions, and mental health by conducting exploratory cluster analysis to identify distinct profiles of technology use and physical activities, then comparing resulting clusters on demographics, social support, and mental health dimensions. Using the first wave of the longitudinal Oxford Achieving Resilience during COVID-19 (ARC) study of 1,196 United Kingdom adolescents aged 13-18, three clustering algorithms (k-means, k-medoids, and agglomerative hierarchical) identified optimal groupings validated both statistically and empirically. Three distinct clusters emerged: Cluster 1 (n = 380) characterized by low media use and moderate activity; Cluster 2 (n = 153) showing high media use and low activity; and Cluster 3 (n = 23) displaying moderate media use and high activity. Follow-up analyses using chi-square tests and ANOVA revealed that Cluster 2 adolescents (high media/low activity) were more likely to be male, heterosexual, and non-white, with increased alcohol consumption, higher depression scores, and lower conscientiousness. These findings demonstrate that technology use and physical activity interact to create distinct behavioral profiles with differential mental health risks, challenging one-size-fits-all interventions. The person-centered approach suggests youth-development professionals should develop flexible, tailored support strategies based on adolescents’ specific behavioral patterns rather than viewing media use or physical activity in isolation, providing crucial insights for supporting adolescent mental health during crisis periods.

Recommended Citation

Niu, Chunling; Jin, Rui; love, Ashley; Sadeghi, Sohelia; Cossette, Loren; and Molina, Marissa (2025) "COVID-19 Adolescent Technology Use and Physical Activities: Cluster Analysis for Mental Health," Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 20: Iss. 3, Article 6.
Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol20/iss3/6