Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mobile device-based use of electronic and social media (ESM) is becoming widespread among the young, but its effect on sleep and mood, especially when used after bedtime, remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of bedtime ESM use on sleep quality, daytime functioning and mood on a sample of American university students.
METHODS: An online questionnaire was administered to 105 American university students (age range 18-32 years, mean age 24.4 years [SD 3.7 years], 72% female). Data about sleep habits and ESM use were collected, and validated questionnaires were used to screen for insomnia (Minimal Insomnia Severity Scale), mood disturbances (Personal Health Questionnaire-4) and daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine significant associations between variables.
RESULTS: Nearly all respondents (96%) indicated that they used their mobile devices for ESM use in bed, with 14.2% spending over an hour a night on this activity. Bedtime ESM use was significantly associated with insomnia (rs=0.2, p=0.04) and with mood disturbances (rs =0.2, p=0.04), but not with daytime sleepiness (rs =0.159, p=0.11) or hours of sleep per night (rs=-0.053, p=0.59).
CONCLUSIONS: Among a group of young American university students, the use of mobile devices for ESM in bed is extremely common, and has an adverse relationship with insomnia and mood.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016