Smartphone Use at Night May Disrupt Teenagers’ Sleep, Study Finds
A new medical study has found that smartphone use late in the evening may negatively affect sleep among children and teenagers, with those using their phones after 10 p.m. tending to sleep less and take longer to fall asleep.
Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the study examined 425 children and teenagers with an average age of 15. Researchers analysed sleep data covering around 7,600 nights as part of a broader study on brain development.
Late-Night Phone Use Linked to Less Sleep
The findings showed that teenagers who used smartphones after 10 p.m. slept about 20 minutes less than usual. They also took longer to fall asleep, with the delay reaching around an hour in some cases.
The study also found that teenagers who spent more time using smartphones were more likely to wake up after falling asleep, suggesting a possible link between prolonged phone use and poorer sleep quality.
Why Smartphones May Affect Sleep
Researchers said several factors could explain the association. Using phones before bedtime may keep teenagers awake for longer, while activities such as social media, watching videos, text messaging and responding to notifications can keep the brain stimulated.
Screen light and continued engagement with smartphone content may also make it harder for the brain to transition into sleep.
The researchers concluded that smartphone use after 10 p.m. may affect both the duration and quality of sleep among children and teenagers