Correlation Between Screen Time and Sleep in 18 to 25 Year Olds

Among people ages 18-25, how does screen time affect the quality of sleep? In a new age of technology, humans are using screens more and more as a society. The increased use of technology and screen time is constantly being incorporated into our lives, but people are not fully aware of the impacts this could have on our health. A literature review was conducted to evaluate how screen time affects the quality of sleep. The literature review yielded numerous studies to determine the true effects that screen time has on sleep. The literature search included peer reviewed articles from CINAHL, PubMed, PsycInfo from 2020 to present, using search terms of screen time, sleep, quality of life, adolescents, sleep quality, and blue light. Additional inclusion criteria included key terms of sleep disturbance, sleep deprivation, reduced sleep, and lack of sleep were used with “or.” Exclusion criteria consisted of non-peer reviewed articles published before 2020, studies outside of ages 18-25 years old, or studies involving participants with underlying health conditions. The literature review showed that increased screen time has a strong correlation with increased sleep issues, decreased quality of sleep, and subsequently, poorer quality of life. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term interventions for managing screen time and enhancing sleep quality in this population. Increased screen time usage is shown to have a negative impact on sleep, so analyzing the details of this issue will offer more information to those who are unaware of the impact, hopefully informing them and giving them the awareness to begin changing these habits.