The relationship between screen time and sleep quality in adolescents: a quantitative survey study

Background: The widespread use of digital devices among adolescents has led to increased screen time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the relationship between screen time duration and sleep quality, highlighting how excessive exposure disrupts adolescents' sleep patterns. Aim: This study aims to analyze the relationship between the duration of electronic device use (screen time) and sleep quality among adolescents using a quantitative approach. The primary focus of this research is to determine whether screen time serves as a significant predictor of sleep disturbances in adolescents. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed in this study. A total of 120 adolescent respondents (aged 13–18 years) were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through an online questionnaire consisting of two main instruments: a daily screen time log and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression. Result: The results indicated that the respondents' average screen time was 4.88 hours per day, with 80% scoring above 5 on the PSQI, indicating poor sleep quality. A strong and statistically significant positive correlation was found between screen time and sleep quality scores (r = 0.775; p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that screen time accounted for 60.1% of the variance in sleep quality (R² = 0.601), and each additional hour of screen time increased the PSQI score by approximately 1.039 points. Conclusion: The findings have important implications for interventions and educational efforts directed at adolescents, parents, and educators to manage screen time wisely in order to preserve sleep quality. Furthermore, the results may serve as a foundation for digital health policies and the promotion of sleep hygiene in school and family environments.