Gaming Behaviors and the Association with Sleep Duration, Social Jetlag, and Difficulties Falling Asleep among Norwegian Adolescents

Abstract

The relationship between gaming and sleep is mostly informed by studies of addictive gaming behavior, thus limiting our understanding of sleep in the context of nonproblematic engaged gaming. The present study investigated whether addicted, problem, and engaged gaming behavior was associated with sleep duration, social jetlag, and difficulties falling asleep. The sample consisted of 13- and 16-year-old Norwegian adolescents (n = 3228) participating in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2018. Participants were categorized into addicted, problem, engaged, and normal/non-gaming behavior groups according to which GAS-7 criteria they fulfilled. Robust generalized linear mixed models with a random intercept for class ID were used to examine the association between the sleep variables and gaming behavior. Addicted gaming behavior was unfavorably associated with all sleep parameters. The findings for engaged gaming and problem gaming behavior were somewhat mixed. Engaged gamers slept less on weekends, less on weekdays for those aged 16, and experienced greater social jetlag compared to the normal/non-gaming group. Problem gamers experienced greater social jetlag and had higher odds of experiencing difficulties falling asleep. Overall, the results suggest that all types of gaming behaviors might harm sleep health, but to a greater extent for the addicted gamers.

The association between social jetlag and poor health and its (nutritional) mechanisms

“…Additionally, social jetlag is associated with high caffeine intake in teenagers (16) . In addition to poorer food choices, social jetlag is thought to increase sedentary behaviours as shown in our own small cross-sectional study, in which those with social jetlag had lower physical activity levels (17) , confirmed by Alves et al (18) Moreover, in addition to decreasing physical activity, an increase in other sedentary behaviours, such as gaming was observed (19) . When present on the long-term these negative lifestyle behaviours can cause a positive energy balance, which, when chronic, leads to an increase in waist circumference and BMI, and higher risk of obesity.…”

Problematic social media use and overweight/obesity: explanatory pathway analysis of 124 667 in‐school adolescents in 39 high‐income countries

“…In our analysis, the responses were categorised into two: ‘<5: poor life satisfaction’ and ‘≥5: good life satisfaction’. Various cross‐country and cultural analyses have used this scale to assess self‐rated life satisfaction 52–54 …”

“…Various cross-country and cultural analyses have used this scale to assess self-rated life satisfaction. [52][53][54] Physical activity was assessed with a single item adapted from the Physical Activity Screening Measure (PASM). 55 Adolescents answered: 'Over the past seven days, how many days were you physically active for at least 60 min/day?'…”

Digital Addiction and Sleep

“…Research on the etiology and particular symptoms of digital addiction [ 6 , 7 ], by comparison with other behavioral addictions [ 3 ], is focused on sleep and mood disorders and recognizes that there are clear similarities in this regard between substance or behavioral addictions [ 3 ], including digital addiction [ 7 ]. A key symptom common to all forms of addiction is, indeed, sleep dysfunction [ 42 , 43 ].…”

“…Sleep dysfunction does not happen in a void but results from complex interactions between internal (body and brain function) and external (environment) variables. These interactions need to be recognized and fully taken into account for approaching pathological sleep in digital addiction [ 27 , 35 , 43 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 66 ], as they have implications for preventive measures and clinical treatment.…”