Latest news with #GunnhildJohnsenHjetland
The Star
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Scrolling on your phone in bed can ruin your sleep, study says
Scrolling through social media until you fall asleep may impact on sleep and increase health problems. — Photo: SEBASTIAN GOLLNOW/dpa People who want a better shot at getting a sound night's shut-eye should make sure it's not just lights out but phone off too when hitting the hay. That's according to scientists in Norway who surveyed around 45,000 students and found that in-bed screen-time increases the risk of developing insomnia by 59% and can shave almost a half an hour off whatever sleep can be had. And while many might assume such restlessness to be down to people fretting over social media posts – perhaps not getting enough likes for their latest Instagram post or scant engagement with a bit of reply-guy trolling on X – the Norwegian survey suggests otherwise. 'Screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption – likely due to time displacement, where screen use delays sleep by taking up time that would otherwise be spent resting,' said Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Writing up their findings in the journal Frontiers In Psychiatry, the Norwegian team 'found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities'. 'Screen use is thought to impact sleep in four ways: notifications disturb sleep, screen time replaces sleeping time, screen activities keep you wakeful so you take longer to fall asleep, or light exposure delays circadian rhythms,' according to the researchers, who used data drawn from Norway's 2022 Students' Health and Well-being survey covering 45,202 people between 18 and 28 years old. The Norwegian findings follow the publication on the 28th of a paper in Frontiers In Communication Science showing that people who are constantly distracted by their phones – grabbing it at every notification, losing focus on work – will find other reasons to prevaricate and procrastinate even if they take the drastic cold turkey step of keeping away from the phone for extended periods. 'Putting the smartphone away may not be sufficient to reduce disruption and procrastination, or increase focus,' said Maxi Heitmayer of the London School of Economics, who carried out tests in which 22 people were left to work using their computers and phones for two days in a soundproof room. 'Our phones are an endless source of distraction, and we interact with them every four to six minutes,' publisher Frontiers said. – dpa
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Screen Time In Bed May Increase Insomnia Odds, Study Suggests
If you're reading this in bed on your phone, you're not alone. Lots of people use their phones before and beyond bedtime, especially young adults and teens. Still, you might want to call it a night soon (after you finish reading this, of course). Extended screen time before bed – or in bed – is widely suspected to disrupt sleep, although key details about the dynamic remain unclear. In a new study, researchers tried to shed more light on the issue, using data from a large survey of 45,202 university students in Norway. Screen time in bed is associated with 59 percent higher odds of insomnia, the study found, leading to 24 fewer minutes of total sleep per night. But people use screens in many ways, some of which may affect sleep more than others. Would TV sabotage your slumber as much as social media? Some previous studies suggest social media is especially bad for sleep, even more than other types of screen time. Yet little research has directly compared various screen-based activities and their impact on sleep. Most studies that have done so focused on teenagers, the researchers note. The new study features a slightly older demographic, ranging in age from 18 to 28, and draws from vast data collected for the Students' Health and Well-being Study 2022, a nationally representative study of Norwegian students. The survey contains demographic information about students as well as several health and lifestyle factors, including screen use and sleep. "Sleep problems are highly prevalent among students and have significant implications for mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being, but previous studies have primarily focused on adolescents," says Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland, clinical psychologist at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. "Given the widespread use of screens in bed, we aimed to explore the relationship between different screen activities and sleep patterns," she says. "We expected that social media use might be more strongly associated with poorer sleep, given its interactive nature and potential for emotional stimulation." According to the findings, however, social media use was no more of a hindrance to sleep than other screen-based activities. "The type of screen activity does not appear to matter as much as the overall time spent using screens in bed," Hjetland says. "We found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, suggesting that screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption – likely due to time displacement, where screen use delays sleep by taking up time that would otherwise be spent resting." Participants reported whether they used any electronic media in bed, and for how long. They specified if they were watching movies or TV, checking social media, browsing the internet, listening to audio, gaming, or reading study-related content. The researchers grouped these into three broader categories: just social media, no social media, or social media plus other screen-based activities. In addition, participants reported their bedtimes and rising times, how long it took them to fall asleep, how often they struggled to fall or stay asleep, how often they felt sleepy during the day, and duration of their sleep troubles. Those reporting more post-bedtime screen time were much more likely to report symptoms of insomnia, the study found. The specific activity seemed to matter less than total screen time, suggesting screen use might curtail sleep by displacing rest rather than boosting wakefulness. There are some notable caveats. The sample size is large, for example, yet lacks the cultural diversity to make the findings broadly generalizable. The study also grouped many screen-based activities together, obscuring possible nuance in narrower categories. And while the study shows correlation, it can't reveal causality. People checking social media actually reported better sleep overall, but the influence could go either way. "Another interpretation is that social media use is not the preferred activity for students who struggle the most with their sleep," the researchers write. Some students use technology as a sleep aid, and may choose activities commonly considered more calming, like watching a movie or listening to music instead of doomscrolling. "If you struggle with sleep and suspect that screen time may be a factor, try to reduce screen use in bed, ideally stopping at least 30 to 60 minutes before sleep," Hjetland says. "If you do use screens, consider disabling notifications to minimize disruptions during the night." The study was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry. Bird Flu Is Evolving Dangerously, But We Can Prevent a Disaster The Mere Thought of Being Hungry Could Alter Your Immune System A Sprinkle of Artificial Sweetener Could Help Battle Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Saudi Gazette
01-04-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds
LONDON — People who spend extended time using digital devices in bed are more likely to experience insomnia and reduced sleep duration, according to a large Norwegian study of over 45,000 students. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, found that each additional hour of screen use in bed was associated with a 63% higher risk of insomnia and 24 fewer minutes of sleep. Researchers, however, emphasized that the findings are correlational and do not prove causation. Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, lead author of the study, said that the type of screen activity — whether watching videos, browsing, or using social media — did not significantly affect the results. "Screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption," she said. Participants in the study, aged 18 to 28, were surveyed in 2022 on their bedtime were asked how often they used screens after going to bed and for how included watching TV or movies, using social media, browsing the internet, and gaming. Around 69% of participants said they used social media in addition to other screen-based activities before who reported difficulty falling or staying asleep, early waking, or daytime fatigue at least three times a week for three months were classified as experiencing researchers acknowledged that their findings were based on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias, and stressed that the study should not be generalized to populations outside experts say the research adds to growing evidence that screen use can negatively impact sleep. 'It steals both opportunity and the quality of your sleep,' said Joshua Piper, a UK-based sleep clinician at noted that even adjusting screen brightness or enabling night mode may not be enough to counteract the stimulating effects of device to UK health experts, around one in three people experience some form of insomnia. Common culprits include late-night phone use and "doomscrolling."Experts recommend minimizing digital device use before bed, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and engaging in relaxing activities such as reading, taking a bath, or doing breathing exercises. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and large meals before bedtime can also therapist Dr. Kat Lederle advised getting early morning sunlight exposure to regulate the body's internal clock and suggested winding down with calming, non-stimulating researchers behind the study called for further long-term research into how screen time affects sleep, including the impact of nighttime notifications and other digital interruptions. — BBC
Roya News
01-04-2025
- Health
- Roya News
Study links bedtime screen use to higher insomnia risk
A new study suggests that people who spend more time looking at screens in bed are more likely to report sleep disturbances, including insomnia. The research, based on survey responses from over 45,000 Norwegian students aged 18-28, found that each additional hour of screen time in bed was associated with a 63 percent higher risk of insomnia and an average of 24 minutes less sleep per night. However, researchers emphasized that the study established a correlation rather than direct causation. 'This study cannot determine causality — for example, whether screen use causes insomnia or if students with insomnia use screens more,' said Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the study's lead author. The findings, published in Frontiers, indicated that the type of screen activity—whether social media, streaming, browsing, or gaming—was less relevant than overall screen exposure. 'We found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, suggesting that screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption,' Dr. Hjetland explained. - How the study measured sleep issues - Participants were asked about their digital media use after going to bed, including how often they engaged in screen activities and for how long. Researchers then assessed their sleep quality based on self-reported difficulties such as trouble falling asleep, waking up frequently, or experiencing daytime fatigue at least three times a week for three months—criteria used to identify insomnia. While bedtime screen use was consistently linked to reported sleep problems, researchers acknowledged limitations in the study, including potential biases in self-reported data and the need for broader, long-term research. - Tips for better sleep - Insomnia affects millions of people worldwide, and while the impact of screen time on sleep remains debated, experts generally recommend reducing device use before bed. Health organizations suggest creating a bedtime routine, avoiding screens before sleep, and opting for relaxing activities like reading or breathing exercises. They also advise maintaining consistent sleep schedules, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, and minimizing nighttime distractions, such as phone notifications.
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Screen time in bed linked to worse sleep, study finds
People who spend more time looking at a screen in bed are more likely to report insomnia and sleep loss, a study has research is based on a Norwegian survey of more than 45,000 indicates that each additional hour of screen time was linked to a 63% increase in insomnia risk, and 24 minutes less the researchers said they had only established a correlation between screen use and lower sleep quality and had not demonstrated that the former caused the say putting down your phone before bed, doing something relaxing and establishing a routine may help improve you should go to sleep at the same time all week The researchers behind the study, based on nationally representative survey data of 18-28 year old students gathered in 2022, wanted to examine the link between the amount of time spent using screens in bed and sleep also sought to probe the impact on sleep of using social media compared to other screen Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, who is lead author of the research - published in a Frontiers journal on Monday - said the type of screen activity appeared to be less impactful than screen time on the whole."We found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, suggesting that screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption," he 2022 Norway health and wellbeing survey asked participants to identify if they used any digital media after they had gone to bed, as well as activities they included watching films or TV, checking social media, browsing the internet and those saying they used screens in bed before sleep, 69% said they used social media as well as other screen-based were also asked to identify how many nights a week they would engage with such media, and for how much time, as well as how often they had difficultly falling or staying asleep, waking up early or experiencing identified those who said they experienced such issues at least three nights or days a week, for at least three months as experiencing the study found a link between bedtime screen use and people reporting sleep disruption or insomnia, researchers say it does not mean it is a cause."This study cannot determine causality — for example, whether screen use causes insomnia or if students with insomnia use screens more," said Dr also note that the study's reliance on survey data of self-reported experiences may mean it contains biases, and its findings should not be considered globally representative. Tips for better sleep Insomnia is believed to affect as many as one in three people in the sleep disorder is among a whole host of problems people have reported experiencing with sleep - with late night phone use and doomscrolling often common practice, the actual impact of using social media or scrolling through online content in bed on physical and mental health remains experts recommend that people stop using digital devices shortly before trying to go to also say establishing a routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day may help sleep health charities Mind and Rethink recommend trying to do something relaxing before going to sleep such as breathing exercises, reading a book or having a bath, rather than trying to force yourself to also suggest avoiding caffeine, alcohol or large meals before bed, doing gentle exercise and trying to make your bedroom more comfortable, where authors of this study echo the need for further research into the subject, including longer-term monitoring of sleep patterns as well as investigations into areas such as the disruption caused overnight by device notifications."Together, such efforts could clarify the impact of bedtime screen use on sleep and inform targeted recommendations for students and other populations," they conclude.
