O053 Exploring the screen-sleep connection in preschoolers using wearable cameras

Abstract Introduction Screen time is an integral part of children’s evening activities. However its impact on sleep, an essential component of healthy development, remains unclear with most research limited to school-age children and parent/self-report of screens. Aim To describe pre-bedtime screen use in pre-schoolers using novel wearable video camera technology and examine associations with sleep. Methods Seventy children aged 3-4 years (51.4% female, 18.6% indigenous Māori) without significant sleep disturbance participated. Sleep was measured using 7-day actigraphy and chest-worn GoPro cameras captured pre-bedtime screen use up to 5 nights. Videos were coded for screen duration, type, and content. Eight actigraphy variables captured timing, duration and quality. Bedtime was based on video and/or parent report. Mixed-effects regression models assessed associations between screen use and same-night sleep. Results Of 358 nights recorded, 284 (79.3%) involved screens in the 2 hours before bed, including TVs (56.2%), phones (22.9%), computers (11.2%), tablets (10.9%) and other devices (2.2%). In the 30 min before bed, 49.7% of 340 nights with data involved screens. Screen time had no relationship with actigraphy-derived sleep. The only significant finding was that on nights when pre-schoolers went to bed earlier they had more screen time 30 minutes before bedtime (p=.028). Conclusions Why screen use near bedtime was linked to earlier bedtime is unknown, but may reflect continued use in bed as part of settling. Screen use did not affect other sleep outcomes. Findings suggest recommendations to restrict evening screen use in the 1-2 h before bed for healthy sleep lack objective support.