In a recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health , researchers investigate the potential link between bedtime screen use in early adolescents and sleep outcomes after one year. Overall, bedtime screen use was associated with shorter sleep durations and increased sleep disturbances one year later in early adolescence. Study: Bedtime Screen Use Behaviors and Sleep Outcomes in Early Adolescents: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Image Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shuterstock.com How does screentime affect sleep? Research shows that screen use, which includes television, computers, and mobile phones, increases during early adolescence between the ages of 10 and 15 years and has been associated with academic, mental health, and sleep issues.
Adequate sleep is vital for adolescents' behavioral, emotional, and cognitive development. In fact, early sleep problems can be used to predict behavioral and emotional concerns, as well as weight gain later in life. Most studies on screen use and sleep are cross-sectional in design and focus on daily rather than bedtime use.
Studies from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Norway reported that bedtime screen use negatively impacts sleep; however, these studies were associated with several limitations. Likewise, the United States Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study recently reported that bedtime screen use was associated with sleep disturbances; however, the cross-sectional nature of this study prevented th.