« Physicians, psychologists concerned that sending text messages may cause anxiety, repetitive stress injury in teenagers | Main | Combined medication, behavioral interventions may help reduce pain, depression in some patients with musculoskeletal pain »
May 27, 2009
Inadequate sleep among teens may be linked to nighttime use of electronic devices, research suggests
WebMD (5/26, Wilbert) reports that "many teens are not getting adequate sleep, and this deficiency is especially common among teens who use electronic devices -- such as computers, cell phones, and televisions -- at night," according to a study published in Pediatrics.
Researchers followed "100 participants aged 12 to 18 who were in middle school and high school." These individuals were "assigned a multitasking index, based on their answers to questions about how much time after 9 p.m. they spent with various electronic devices."
Most "participants used some form of technology in the nighttime hours." The investigators "found a significant correlation between the multitasking index and sleep." Participants "getting eight to 10 hours of sleep per night tended to have a lower multitasking index." Meanwhile, those "with a high multitasking index also drank more caffeine."
The researchers also found that participants "getting inadequate sleep were more likely to fall asleep during class."
Related Links:
- "Gadgets Keep Teens Up at Night," Caroline Wilbert, WebMD Health News, May 26, 2009.
Posted by admin at May 27, 2009 04:00 PM