A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics has found that not all screen time before bed negatively affects sleep for children aged 11 to 14.9. This research suggests that existing bedtime screen time guidelines might need to be adjusted.
Previous studies generally compared average screen time with average sleep, which did not account for daily variations. The new study used a repeated-measures approach to analyze how changes in screen use from night to night affected sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that screen time can disrupt sleep by increasing alertness and raising heart rates, making it harder for children to fall asleep.
Study Details and Findings
To address the limitations of self-reported data, the researchers in Dunedin, New Zealand, from March to December 2021, employed an objective, night-by-night approach. They used video cameras to track screen time and wrist-worn accelerometers to measure sleep duration and quality. The data were analyzed from October to November 2023.
Of the 79 participants (average age 12.9; 59.5% male), only one did not have screen time before bed. The study found no significant link between screen time in the two hours before bed and sleep quality. However, screen use once in bed, especially interactive activities, was associated with poorer sleep. Interactive screen use led to a delay in sleep onset by 10 minutes for every 10 minutes of screen time and decreased total sleep time.
Gaming and multitasking before sleep were particularly disruptive. For every 10 minutes spent gaming, total sleep time decreased by 17 minutes, and multitasking led to a 35-minute reduction in total sleep time compared to nights without these activities.
Conclusion
The study highlights that while not all bedtime screen time affects sleep, interactive and gaming screen activities are linked to poorer sleep quality. These findings suggest that current presleep screen time recommendations may need to be revised.
