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In a recent study conducted in Norway, researchers found that using screens in bed can significantly impact sleep. The survey, which included 45,202 young adults, revealed that screen use in bed could increase the risk of insomnia by 59% and reduce sleep duration by 24 minutes. Interestingly, the type of screen activity, whether social media or other forms, did not show a significant difference in disrupting sleep patterns. Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland, the lead author of the study, emphasized that the overall time spent on screens in bed was the key factor affecting sleep, leading to delays in falling asleep and reduced rest.

### Night night, sleep tight?

Sleep plays a crucial role in both mental and physical health, yet many individuals do not get enough quality sleep. The widespread habit of using screens in bed has been associated with poor sleep quality. Screen usage can impact sleep in various ways, such as disturbances from notifications, replaced sleeping time, increased time to fall asleep due to engaging activities, and delayed circadian rhythms due to light exposure.

Hjetland highlighted the prevalence of sleep problems among students and their significant impact on mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. Although previous studies have mainly focused on adolescents, the current research aimed to explore the relationship between different screen activities and sleep patterns among young adults between 18 to 28 years old.

### All-nighters

The study discovered that every additional hour spent using screens after bedtime increased the likelihood of experiencing insomnia symptoms by 59% and decreased sleep duration by 24 minutes. Contrary to popular belief, social media usage did not prove to be more detrimental to sleep than other screen activities. The choice of screen activity did not interact significantly with the time spent using screens, indicating that the activity itself did not affect wakefulness but rather displaced rest time.

To mitigate the impact of screen use on sleep, the researchers recommended reducing screen time in bed at least 30-60 minutes before sleep and disabling notifications to minimize disruptions during the night. While the findings shed light on the relationship between screen use and sleep in Norwegian students, the researchers cautioned that cultural differences and varying effects of different screen activities on sleep globally might influence the results. They also noted that the study’s design did not establish causality between screen use and insomnia, highlighting the need for further research with physiological assessments to gain deeper insights into sleep patterns.