Screen Time and Sleep among School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Screen Time and Sleep among School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

2015 June ; 21: 50-58. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2014.07.007. | Lauren Hale, PhD and Stanford Guan, MPH
This systematic literature review examines the association between screen time (including television, computers, video games, and mobile devices) and sleep outcomes among school-aged children and adolescents. The review includes 67 studies published from 1999 to early 2014, finding that screen time is adversely associated with sleep outcomes (mainly shortened duration and delayed timing) in 90% of studies. The effects vary by type of screen exposure, participant age, gender, and day of the week. While the evidence is consistent, methodological limitations include unconfirmed causal associations, measurement errors, and limited data on simultaneous use of multiple screens. Recommendations include advising youth to limit screen time, especially before or during bedtime, to minimize harmful effects on sleep and well-being. Future research should address these limitations and better understand the magnitude and mechanisms of the association.This systematic literature review examines the association between screen time (including television, computers, video games, and mobile devices) and sleep outcomes among school-aged children and adolescents. The review includes 67 studies published from 1999 to early 2014, finding that screen time is adversely associated with sleep outcomes (mainly shortened duration and delayed timing) in 90% of studies. The effects vary by type of screen exposure, participant age, gender, and day of the week. While the evidence is consistent, methodological limitations include unconfirmed causal associations, measurement errors, and limited data on simultaneous use of multiple screens. Recommendations include advising youth to limit screen time, especially before or during bedtime, to minimize harmful effects on sleep and well-being. Future research should address these limitations and better understand the magnitude and mechanisms of the association.
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