Social Media Use Linked to Lack of Sl eep in Students

Greater use of social media was associated with a greater likelihood of getting too little sleep in an Acta Paediatrica study ofCanadian students aged 11-20 years.

In the 5242-participant study, 63.6% of individuals slept less than recommended, with 73.4% of students reporting that they used social media for at least one hour per day. Greater use of social media was associated with shorter sleep duration in a doseresponse fashion among the students.

“The impact social media can have on sleep patterns is a topic of great interest given the well-known adverse effects of sleep deprivation on health,” said senior author Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput, of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. “Electronic screen devices are pervasive in today’s society and we are just starting to understand their risks andbenefits.”

Full citation: Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., Hamilton, H. A. and Chaput, JP. (2018), Use of social media is associated with short sleep duration in a dose–response manner in students aged 11 to 20 years. Acta Paediatr doi:10.1111/apa.14210

Copyright © 2018 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., reproduced with permission.