The Relationship Between Evening Screen Time Use and Objectively Measured Sleep Outcomes in US College Students

Authors

Donya SedaghatFollow

Mentor

Dr. Keith Brazendale

Abstract

High amounts of nightly screen time have been thought to negatively affect sleep outcomes (sleep duration, quality, and latency). There is a lack of evidence exploring if this pattern exists in U.S. college students. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between evening screen time use and objectively measured sleep outcomes in U.S. college students. College students (N = 29) junior or senior standing in a Health Sciences major were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants wore accelerometers on their non-dominant wrist for 24hr/day for 7 days to capture sleep (duration, efficiency, awakenings, timing). Participants also completed a survey regarding their screen time habits and evening usage. Twenty-nine college students (86% female, ~21.5 years old, 38% White, 35% Overweight/Obese) provided valid accelerometer data. The accelerometer recorded 180 observations of nighttime sleep total. Average nighttime sleep duration was 433.8 minutes with an average of 22.3 awakenings. The mean sleep efficiency was 87.3%. The average self-reported daily screen time of participants was 419.1 minutes, and in the evening after 10:00 p.m. was 112.2 minutes. Preliminary evidence suggests that a negative relationship between evening screen time use and objectively measured sleep outcomes may exist for U.S. college students. This study provides reliable, objective data of college-student sleep that may inform future public health interventions in this population.

About the Author

Donya Sedaghat is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida. Donya also has a minor in Psychology, and is interested in medicine, public health, and research. As president of the UCF organization Knights for Refugee Medical Relief, Donya is inspired to help those in underserved communities, with an emphasis on global health. Her research interests include sleep health and wellness of college students.

Recommended Citation

Sedaghat, Donya (2024) "The Relationship Between Evening Screen Time Use and Objectively Measured Sleep Outcomes in US College Students," The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 16: Iss. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol16/iss1/1