The relationship between upper body posture with physical activity, psychological properties and electronic entertainment using measures in female primary students in Tehran

Using electronic entertainments in different forms have caused to occupy major part of different age groups' free time, especially in children and teenagers. The purpose of this research was studying the relationship between "upper body posture" and physical activity measure, mental aspects and using electronic entertainments.  In this cross-sectional study, 160 female students aged 7-12 years old, from 17th district of Tehran were chosen. Tools for collecting information was included short-form physical activity measure questionnaire (IPAQ), personal information questionnaire consisting of questions about the amount of time using electronic entertainments, Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) and children's depression inventory (CDI) by Maria Kovacs. Photogrammetric method was applied for measuring forward head and rounded shoulder angle, and a flexible ruler for measuring kyphosis angle. A linear regression test with a %95 level of certainty was used for analysing collected information (P <0.05). There is a meaningful relationship between depression and anxiety with students' forward head angle, and depression and electronic entertainments with kyphosis angle (P<0.05). But no meaningful relationship was observed between rounded shoulder angle and mental aspects and physical activity. A close relationship between psychological factors and upper body posture in female primary school students from Tehran was observed and this issue should be considered while designing preventive and corrective programs. More research is needed to clarify this issue.