Does Digital Technology Exposure Affect Children's Sleep Duration?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the relationship between digital technology screen exposure time and sleep duration in Alpha generation children. We hypothesize that children with longer screen exposure time and digital technology in the bedroom will have a negative impact on sleep duration. METHODS: A total of 128 parents with children between the ages of 1-96 months were included in the study. A semi-structured evaluation form was used by the researchers to investigate demographic information, the use of technological devices, the presence of technological devices in the bedroom and sleep-related behaviors. RESULTS: The distribution of technological devices in the children's bedroom was as follows; 46% television, 28.5% mobile phone, 11.2% computer and 14.3% tablets. It was found that the use or exposure of technological devices was highest (157.3 minutes) in children aged 25-48 months. When we examined the relationship between the duration of screen use /exposure of children and sleep time, it was found that there was a statistically significant relationship between total screen time and total sleep time (p=0.0001). There was no statistically significant relationship between screen time before bedtime, sleep onset time and total sleep time. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was seen that the most common technological device in children's bedroom was television and the group with the least sleep time was between 25-48 months and the children who were under the influence of the most technological devices before sleeping were children aged 1-48 months. It was observed that the increases in screen time in children was associated with a decrease in sleep duration but did not affect sleep time by having a technological device in the bedroom.

Keywords

• digital games
• technological devices
• screen exposure
• children
• sleep problems