Electronic Devices May Hamper Teens’ Sleep
If you’ve walked into a darkened room recently, you may well have been greeted by the illuminated face of a friend or colleague staring intently into the warm glow of a computer screen. In all likelihood, you are yourself doing the same at this very moment. Digital devices have become intimately woven into the fabric of our daily lives- but what are these tools doing to our quality of life?
Researchers are trying to find that out. Perhaps unsurprisingly, electronic technologies may be particularly hazardous to the developing bodies and minds of adolescents.
A recent study published by the British medical journal BMJ Open suggests that spending hours on electronic devices, even during the day, has negative effects on teenagers’ sleep. The study, which canvassed nearly 10,000 Norwegians aged 16-19, found that prolonged use of electronic devices was associated with difficulty falling asleep and an overall lack of sleep.
That’s especially worrying, considering the problems sleep deficit can cause, said UNC-Charlotte Clinical Nursing Professor Kathy Jordan.
“Adolescent sleep loss poses a serious risk to adolescent physical and emotional health and well-being, academic success, and safety,” she said, “Consequences of insufficient sleep in adolescents include mood disorders (especially anxiety and depressive symptoms), and an increased risk of suicidal ideation.”
Dr. Jordan said there are other dangers as well.
“Daytime sleepiness and fatigue have been cited as major contributors to an increased rate of motor vehicle collisions. Insufficient sleep has also been associated with a higher risk of obesity in adolescents.”
The collection of habits a person has surrounding sleep is known by experts as that person’s “sleep hygiene.” Professor Auburne Deming is Program Coordinator of UNC-Charlotte’s Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science Program. Professor Deming says bad sleep hygiene can range from staying up late on a PC, to something as simple as poor temperature control in the bedroom.
“Sleep hygiene is an incredibly important aspect to helping our patients achieve a better night’s sleep,” she said, “we can treat sleep disorders, but if their poor sleep hygiene habits remain, then we are doing our patients a disservice.”
The British study found that teens who used devices like cell phones, MP3 players, or video game consoles for more than two hours a day after school were more likely to have trouble falling asleep, and were also at a greater risk for not getting enough sleep.
On average, participants said they needed 8-9 to hours of sleep to feel rested. But the study concluded that teens that spent more than two hours emailing or talking to friends online were three times more likely to get less than five hours of rest.
The researchers noted that the relative impact of specific types of devices is still a “matter of discussion”, though the most commonly used device, the PC, showed the strongest association with negative effects on sleep.
“Caregivers definitely need to monitor and set limits on the use of technology among adolescents, particularly if the use of devices is interfering with healthy sleep habits,” Dr. Jordan said.
The study offers several explanations as to why electronic devices may hinder sleep. Screen time may simply replace sleep time, the authors hypothesized. Alternatively, more complex processes could be at work: electronic devices may interfere with circadian rhythm, our “body clock”, or stimulate the nervous system, making it tough to doze off.
Professor Deming said research employing a full polysomnographic overnight study could yield more definitive answers on the specific ways these devices affect sleep. She also noted such a study would provide more objective data, avoiding some of the pitfalls of self-reporting.
The researchers noted that because this is an emerging public health issue, recommendations on teens’ electronic device usage need to be updated and distributed to the public.
Professor Deming said given its impact on our lives, quality sleep is something worth paying attention to: “We spend one-third of our lives sleeping – I believe that anything that naturally requires that much of our time each day should be given ample attention to ensure that we are achieving the best quality sleep in order to enhance our overall health.”
by: Wills Citty
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