Technology use and sleep: An examination of population data from the National Sleep Foundation

Evening technology use is common and may be associated with poorer sleep health. We sought to understand pre-sleep technology use in a national sample of adults and its cross-sectional association with sleep health characteristics.

Participants reported their pre-sleep technology use in the hour before bedtime, as well as location of use. Self-reported sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep deficiency, and social jetlag were assessed from the Sleep Health Index. We used weighted analyses to evaluate the prevalence of technology use in the hour prior to bedtime, location of technology use, and sociodemographic differences in pre-bedtime technology use. Further, we examined associations between technology use and self-reported sleep characteristics.

The sample included 1000 participants (M_age = 51.92, 51.1% women). The majority (89.9%) reported using electronic devices within 1 hour of bedtime, with 76.5% using technology in the bedroom. Hispanic participants and younger participants reported greater device use before bed and in the bedroom. Use of any device near bedtime was associated with poorer sleep quality and greater sleep deficits. Smartphone use, specifically, was associated with greater social jetlag.

Technology use before bed was reported in 9 out of 10 participants and was commonly used in the bedroom. Smartphone use in the hour before bed was associated with less consistent sleep patterns. Presence of racial and ethnic differences in pre-sleep technology use may signify a potential target for promoting health equity.