A study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined the relationship between screen use at bedtime and sleep duration and quality among youths aged 11 to 14 years. Conducted from March to December 2021 in Dunedin, New Zealand, the repeated-measures cohort study involved 79 participants. The researchers used wearable or stationary cameras to objectively measure screen time from two hours before bedtime until the initial attempt to sleep. The study found that pre-bedtime screen use, particularly once in bed, was linked to delayed sleep onset and reduced sleep duration, especially with interactive activities like gaming and multitasking. Wrist-worn accelerometers provided objective measurements of sleep quality and duration, revealing that while all screen time types delayed sleep onset, interactive screen use was notably impactful.

The study indicates that screen time in bed, rather than before bedtime, is more closely associated with decreased sleep quality and duration. Participants who engaged in interactive screen activities such as gaming experienced a significant reduction in total sleep time. These findings suggest that current sleep hygiene guidelines, which broadly recommend limiting screen time before bed, may need refinement to focus on in-bed screen use. Such distinctions could better address the complexities of modern screen use and its impact on youth sleep health.

Source: JAMA Pediatrics