Video gaming and sleep in adults: A systematic review
Oreste De Rosa1, Fiona C Baker2, Giacinto Barresi3
1Department of Psychology, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy; Dermatology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy; Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
None:
Video games (VGs) are one of the most common forms of entertainment and their diffusion is constantly increasing. Although largely studied in the framework of their relationship with mental and physical health, the relationship of VGs with sleep are not yet fully understood. This review provides a systematic assessment of the studies that investigated the relationships between video gaming and sleep in adults. The review search included both online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo) and citation tracking. Twenty-six studies were included in the final qualitative analysis. Findings are described separately for subjective and objective sleep measures and then discussed considering exposure levels and VG typology. Observational studies showed an association between excessive video gaming, poor sleep quality, and delayed sleep timing, whereas habitual and/or casual use was not associated with poor sleep and some studies even showed a beneficial effect on daytime functioning. Experimental evidence shows that playing an arousing VG before sleep delays sleep onset with possible alteration of sleep structure, whereas non-arousing cognitively challenging video gaming resulted in improved sleep continuity, stability, and organization. Overall, these findings show that the effect of VGs on sleep depends on the level of arousal associated with gaming, gaming sessions' duration, and frequency of gaming.
Related Concept Videos
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Cause and Effect
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...


