Screen time in bed can increase the chance of insomnia, study finds
Spending time on smartphones when in bed is likely to increase the chances of insomnia and sleep loss significantly.
A new study in Norway involving 45,000+ students found that mobile device usage is closely linked to poor sleep quality, with the risk of insomnia increasing by 63% with every hour of screen time.
Experts have urged people to create more relaxing bedtime routines to address the issue.
However, the study’s authors said social media usage isn’t unique.
There had been suggestions that scrolling through feeds and social apps might be worse than other screen activities, but this isn’t the case.
Dr Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland said “screen use itself” is the main cause of sleep disruption.
The findings are particularly relevant in the UK, where around one in three people are believed to struggle with insomnia.
The sleep disorder — defined as three nights of poor sleep in a week — is often exacerbated by staring at bright mobile screens late into the night.
The study found screen usage is very disruptive across a range of sleep quality signals.
Sleep clinician Joshua Piper noted: “It steals both opportunity and the quality of your sleep, which is why some may struggle for onset, others struggle to stay asleep.”
During the study, two-thirds of students said they regularly browse social media before bed, which isn’t conducive to a long and restful sleep.
Experts believe it’s advisable to set smartphones aside before sleep and to do something more relaxing, such as taking a bath or reading a book.