Screen Time and Sleep: Survey Study of Teenagers

Introduction

Teenagers have access to a wide array of electronics. From televisions to smartphones to computers, today's youth are exposed to a host of devices that emit artificial light, which may affect how much sleep they get. This research paper explores the possible connection between screen time and sleep time. Specifically, the aim is to test the hypothesis: does increased screen time have a negative effect on sleep time? A multi-question survey was used to determine any possible effects screen time may have on the sleep duration of high school-aged teenagers.

The hypothesis was developed from several key studies examining the effects of screen time on sleep. One study conducted a systematic literature review on 67 studies published between 1999 and early 2014, finding that "screen time is adversely associated with sleep outcomes (primarily shortened duration and delayed timing) in 90% of studies" (Hale & Guan, 2015, p. 50). The results suggest that increased screen time negatively affects sleep by decreasing both sleep length and time spent in deep sleep. The study also identified a possible secondary negative effect: overall well-being. The authors advised that "youth should be advised to limit or reduce screen time exposure, especially before or during bedtime hours to minimize any harmful effects of screen time on sleep and well-being" (Hale & Guan, 2015, p. 50). Because insufficient sleep can lead to a negative impact on a person's well-being, reducing screen time before sleep is particularly important.

The survey was structured around a 2013 study on presleep activities, which found that "presleep activities have been implicated in the declining sleep duration of young people. The top 20 activities were grouped into 3 behavioral sets: screen sedentary time, nonscreen sedentary time, and self-care" (Foley et al., 2013, p. X9). These three behavioral sets formed the basis of the survey and guided the type of questions posed to participants. The study's findings were consistent with prior literature: increased screen time led to decreased sleep time.

The study also remarked on sleep onset timing and its relationship to the degree of screen time. "Television watching was the most commonly reported activity, and screen sedentary time accounted for approximately 30 minutes of the 90-minute presleep period. Participants with a later sleep onset had significantly greater engagement in screen time than those with an earlier sleep onset" (Foley et al., 2013, p. X9). Based on this, the survey included questions about how sleepy participants felt before going to bed, in order to capture the correlation between later sleep onset and screen sedentary time. As Foley et al. (2013, p. X9) concluded, "screen sedentary time dominated the presleep period in this sample and was associated with a later sleep onset. The development of interventions to reduce screen-based behaviors in the presleep period may promote earlier sleep onset and ultimately improved sleep duration."

Method

Survey researchers typically rely on face-to-face interviews and questionnaires (Seale, Gobo, Gubrium, & Silverman, 2007). This research paper uses the survey method to collect information to refute or support the hypothesis. While a small sample cannot establish a general correlation, it can provide information to support or challenge a claim. As Seale et al. (2007, p. 412) note, "in order to obtain a representative sample, some criteria have been developed to weight the answers of the interviewed people who, on some sociodemographic characteristics, are similar to those who have not been reached by interviewers or have refused the interview." The main data collection strategy was a paper survey administered to fifteen students aged 14–18. For the purposes of this survey, answers were anonymous and did not include mention of gender, race, sexuality, or ethnicity.

The survey contained eight questions. Some were yes-or-no questions, while others asked participants to provide numerical values. Students were given 15 minutes to complete the survey. Upon completion, the papers were collected and participants were asked whether they would like to take part in a brief interview. The face-to-face interview lasted approximately five minutes per person; four of the fifteen students participated. The interview answers provided additional information for the discussion section and enabled further examination of screen time behavior.

The survey allowed for numerical and graphical representation of respondent answers, while the face-to-face interviews gave respondents an opportunity to elaborate on their responses. The survey was administered during the lunch period, and students were asked to participate on a random basis.

Results

The negative correlation anticipated by the hypothesis was confirmed. Student responses demonstrated less sleep time with more screen time, likely due in part to late sleep onset. Respondents also indicated that they use electronic devices for homework, and the most popular device reported was the smartphone.

Brief interviews conducted after the survey revealed that students used social media apps on their smartphones immediately before going to bed. They reported checking Twitter feeds, browsing friends' Instagram posts, and messaging people on Facebook. One participant, aged 14, admitted that social media motivated most of her smartphone use, adding that the device was rarely used for phone calls and was instead used primarily for social media apps and text messaging.

Other participants noted that smartphones allowed them to watch videos on YouTube and Netflix. Some reported spending an hour or more watching content from subscribed channels or favorite shows. When asked about homework, participants said they would go online to search for information but would also spend time playing games or engaging with social media. The raw survey data in the Appendix section provides the evidence for the negative correlation between screen time and sleep time.