Associations between Duration and Type of Electronic Device Use and Sleep Quality among Bangkok’s High School Students

Abstract

High school students are increasingly relying on electronic devices for academics, leisure, and social interactions. Concerns have emerged regarding the impact of extensive device use on adolescent sleep quality, critical for well-being during this transformative phase. Past studies suggest that being exposed to prolonged screen time can disrupt sleeping patterns; interestingly, it can vary based on the device type or screen size as well as gender of users. Therefore, we conducted a study to examine the relationship between electronic devices used before bedtime and sleep quality among high school students in Bangkok, while considering device type, screen size, and gender as crucial variables. Our findings reveal a relationship between electronic device use before bed (p=0.008), and gender (p=<0.001) are associated significantly with sleep quality. Notably, we observed that prolonged screen time, particularly on larger screens like laptops (p=0.049), is associated with more disruptions in sleep patterns. Moreover, the duration of electronic devices usage before bed and gender has distinct and notable effects on sleep quality. However, high school students in Bangkok may have unique lifestyles that can significantly impact how electronic devices are integrated into daily routines, potentially exacerbating sleep disruptions. Therefore, further research is required to seek other causes affecting sleep quality. This could be useful in promoting h.