Night-time screen-based media device use and adolescents' sleep and health-related quality of life

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 124; pp. 66 - 78
• Main Authors: Mireku, Michael O., Barker, Mary M., Mutz, Julian, Dumontheil, Iroise, Thomas, Michael S.C., Röösli, Martin, Elliott, Paul, Toledano, Mireille B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Children; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; London; Male; Mobile phone; Odds Ratio; Quality of Life; Screen Time; Screen-based media; Sleep; Surveys and Questionnaires; Television; London; SBMD; SOL; Mobile phone; Sleep; Television; SCAMP; HRQoL; DAG; Children; Screen-based media; BMI; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.069

The present study investigates the relationship between night-time screen-based media devices (SBMD) use, which refers to use within 1 h before sleep, in both lit and dark rooms, and sleep outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among 11 to 12-year-olds. We analysed baseline data from a large cohort of 6616 adolescents from 39 schools in and around London, United Kingdom, participating in the Study of Cognition Adolescents and Mobile Phone (SCAMP). Adolescents self-reported their use of any SBMD (mobile phone, tablet, laptop, television etc.). Sleep variables were derived from self-reported weekday and/or weekend bedtime, sleep onset latency (SOL) and wake time. Sleep quality was assessed using four standardised dimensions from the Swiss Health Survey. HRQoL was estimated using the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Over two-thirds (71.5%) of adolescents reported using at least one SBMD at night-time, and about a third (32.2%) reported using mobile phones at night-time in darkness. Night-time mobile phone and television use was associated with higher odds of insufficient sleep duration on weekdays (Odds Ratio, OR = 1.82, 95% Confidence Interval, CI [1.59, 2.07] and OR = 1.40, 95% CI [1.23, 1.60], respectively). Adolescents who used mobile phones in a room with light were more likely to have insufficient sleep (OR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.10, 1.60]) and later sleep midpoint (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.37, 1.95]) on weekends compared to non-users. The magnitude of these associations was even stronger for those who used mobile phones in darkness for insufficient sleep duration on weekdays (OR = 2.13, 95% CI [1.79, 2.54]) and for later sleep midpoint on weekdays (OR = 3.88, 95% CI [3.25, 4.62]) compared to non-users. Night-time use of mobile phones was associated with lower HRQoL and use in a dark room was associated with even lower KIDSCREEN-10 score (β = –1.18, 95% CI [–1.85, –0.52]) compared to no use. We found consistent associations between night-time SBMD use and poor sleep outcomes and worse HRQoL in adolescents. The magnitude of these associations was stronger when SBMD use occurred in a dark room versus a lit room. •Globally, adolescents are sleeping shorter than the recommended duration.•The prevalence of SBMD use particularly mobile phones is increasing.•Our study is the first to investigate SBMD use in light/darkness and adolescents' sleep and HRQoL•Night-time SBMD use was associated with a high risk of poor HRQoL and sleep outcomes.•The magnitude of these associations was stronger when SBMD use occurred in darkness.