TDNet Discover

Background: In a society that is becoming increasingly dependent on smartphones and other electronics for daily life, research has investigated the potential impacts on overall health as a result of this shift. There is significant evidence and recommendations regarding limiting electronic usage in children and adolescents, however there is not an equal amount of evidence and recommendations for adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to systematically review current literature from the last 10 years regarding the impacts of screen time on sleep quality in adults. Researchers sought to find commonalities across studies and draw conclusions to further aid healthcare recommendations on electronic use in the setting of poor sleep quality in adults. Methods: Three researchers independently searched EBSCO, PubMed, and Google Scholar in search for research articles that fit predetermined inclusion criteria. Once database searches were complete, articles were reviewed for relevancy and quality. Selected articles for the systematic review then underwent data extraction and analysis looking for significant findings. Results: Six studies were included for review and analysis. Five out of 6 studies reported significant findings (p<0.05) correlating increased screen time around bedtime to poor sleep quality. It should be noted that the studies measured sleep quality in different ways. Poor sleep was evaluated by the PSQI (Pittsburgh sleep quality index), ISI (insomnia severity index), sleeponset latency, and morning wakefulness. Five out of 6 studies also demonstrated a significant correlation between increased screen time and increased sleep-onset latency. No significant correlation was identified between increased electronic use and altered sleep duration. Conclusion: This review concludes similar findings to those of pediatric research on electronic iv screen time; namely, that it is correlated to poorer sleep quality and increased sleep-onset latency. This study aims to bring attention to improve guidelines for adult electronic use as it relates to restful sleep. With limited research on this study population, the researchers recommend more longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and crossover studies be conducted to further understand and establish the relationship between sleep quality and excessive electronic use.