Adolescent Sleep Patterns and Night-Time Technology Use: Results of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Big Sleep Survey

Abstract

IntroductionElectronic devices in the bedroom are broadly linked with poor sleep in adolescents. This study investigated whether there is a dose-response relationship between use of electronic devices (computers, cellphones, televisions and radios) in bed prior to sleep and adolescent sleep patterns.MethodsAdolescents aged 11–17 yrs (n = 1,184; 67.6% female) completed an Australia-wide internet survey that examined sleep patterns, sleepiness, sleep disorders, the presence of electronic devices in the bedroom and frequency of use in bed at night.ResultsOver 70% of adolescents reported 2 or more electronic devices in their bedroom at night. Use of devices in bed a few nights per week or more was 46.8% cellphone, 38.5% computer, 23.2% TV, and 15.8% radio. Device use had dose-dependent associations with later sleep onset on weekdays (highest-dose computer adjOR = 3.75: 99% CI = 2.17–6.46; cellphone 2.29: 1.22–4.30) and weekends (computer 3.68: 2.14–6.32; cellphone 3.24: 1.70–6.19; TV 2.32: 1.30–4.14), and later waking on weekdays (computer 2.08: 1.25–3.44; TV 2.31: 1.33–4.02) and weekends (computer 1.99: 1.21–3.26; cellphone 2.33: 1.33–4.08; TV 2.04: 1.18–3.55). Only ‘almost every night’ computer use (: 2.43: 1.45–4.08) was associated with short weekday sleep duration, and only ‘almost every night’ cellphone use (2.23: 1.26–3.94) was associated with wake lag (waking later on weekends).ConclusionsUse of computers, cell-phones and televisions at higher doses was associated with delayed sleep/wake schedules and wake lag, potentially impairing health and educational outcomes.

0158 Chronotypes in the Us - Influence of Age and Sex

“…There is some evident that the proportion of late chronotypes has grown larger over the past decades [26,55], possibly due to the increased use of light-emitting devices such as laptops and smartphones. Their use especially in the evening, and thus exposure to blue-enriched light after dark, has been shown to be associated with melatonin suppression, and delayed circadian phase and sleep patterns [56,57]. Nevertheless, Roenneberg et al [11] found a similar age-specific chronotype profile when looking at yearly entries in their large database between 2003 and 2012, providing some evidence for an age-vs. cohort-effect.…”

Recent Evidence on Worldwide Trends on Sleep Duration

“…We know that cross-sectional studies have demonstrated associations between the amount of technology intrusion and shorter sleep durations [4][5][6]. This could represent an actual effect, or may represent activity displacement (e.g.…”

“…Secular changes in technology use are regularly cited by sleep researchers (including ourselves) as drivers of poor sleep or poor sleep behaviour, although most studies are cross sectional [4][5][6]. Cohort studies are less common [31].…”

Variations in the sleep–wake cycle from childhood to adulthood: chronobiological perspectives

“…8,64,65 Increased use of electronic media seems to have a similar effect. 66,67 The decrease in parentally set bedtimes has a noteworthy effect, with significantly later bedtime and shorter sleep duration in those without parent-set bedtimes. 68 Another contributing factor is working status, with adolescents who engage in employment displaying shorter sleep durations and increased daytime sleepiness compared to their non-working peers.…”