Exploring the associations between screen time and sleep quality in adult residents of Ahmedabad: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and Rationale: Sleep is essential for overall health, but many people experience disruptions in their sleep patterns due to busy schedules and technology use. This study aims to examine the impact of screen time on sleep quality, considering factors such as smoking, caffeine use, napping, physical activity, and stress levels. Methodology: We enrolled 371 participants from Ahmedabad for a cross-sectional study. 278 participants were included after the screening. They completed a questionnaire covering demographics, screen time, covariates, stress using the PSS10 scale, and sleep quality using the PSQI scale. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 after entering it into MS Excel. Results: This study examines the relationships between lifestyle factors and sleep quality among adults aged 18 to 40 in Ahmedabad. The findings suggest that increased screen time (r = 0.518, p < 0.001) and higher stress levels (r = 0.530, p < 0.001) are associated with lower sleep quality. Additionally, nap frequency and physical activity show significant associations with sleep ratings. However, no significant connections were found between caffeine use at night or smoking/tobacco usage and sleep quality. Conclusion: The Spearman correlation indicates a moderate correlation between screen time and sleep quality, as well as between stress and sleep quality. The chi-square test shows significant associations between screen time before bed, napping, and physical activity with sleep quality. However, there is no association between nighttime caffeine consumption or smoking/tobacco use and sleep quality.