Parents and Teenagers: Putting the Sleep Debate to Bed

Prolonged screen exposure before bed has long been a concern for parents, but do screens really play a significant role in poor sleep quality among teenagers?

Previous Debates

Many organizations recommend that teens stop using devices at least an hour before bedtime. This notion is based on studies that linked screen usage to insomnia and poor sleep quality. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that these studies had limitations: they often relied on subjective measures of screen time, and didn’t examine screen usage in the actual period leading up to sleep onset.

New Perspective

For a more accurate understanding of the relationship between screen exposure and sleep quality, it is essential to consider objectively measured screen time and take into account the specific factors influencing screen usage.

Recommendations call for teenagers to avoid the use of devices for at least the hour before bedtime. Many assume that this recommendation minimizes screen exposure’s deleterious effects on teen sleep quality. But should this really be the solution?

Examining Teen Screen Time Practices

Fifteen adolescents, age 11-14, were selected for this study , which aimed at providing an accurate representation of teen screen time practices without the constraints of self-reporting.

Lack of Sleep Due to Screen Exposure

A staggering 98% of the participants still used their devices while sleeping. Most teens continued device usage, even after trying to go to sleep, the third quarter of the young participants reported screen exposure from this moment until they didze off.

Impact of Screen Timing on Sleep Quality