The effect of technology use on sleep quality in primary school-aged children

Childhood sleep problems are an increasing public health concern. Although screen-based technology use is a potential cause, the specific effects of distinct screen-based behaviors on children's sleep remain unclear.

To examine associations between technology use characteristics and sleep quality among primary school-aged children.

The present descriptive and correlational study was conducted based on parent reports from 600 primary school students. Sleep quality was assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). The following were investigated: sociodemographic variables, television, tablet, and smartphone usage times; the presence of technological devices in the children's rooms; and technology use before bedtime. Group comparisons were made using non-parametric tests, and a multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the independent predictors of the CSHQ total score.

The mean CSAQ score for children was 52.79 ± 6.73, and 98.7% of participants were above the clinical sleep problem threshold. The utilization of technological devices was found to be associated with a substantial effect on sleep quality. The utilization of technology prior to bedtime, in addition to smartphone usage that exceeds 2 hours per day, has been demonstrated to be significantly associated with elevated CSHQ scores. In the multiple regression analysis, it was identified that smartphone use (> 2 hours/day) was the strongest independent predictor of sleep quality (β = 0.34; p < 0.001).

The findings of the present study indicate that smartphone use, particularly before bedtime and for extended periods, has a substantial and adverse effect on the quality of sleep in elementary school children.