Effect of Smartphone Usage during Night Time on Sleep Patterns of Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Excessive smartphone usage among adolescents and young adults has been consistently linked to poor sleep. Moreover, smartphone overuse has been associated with daytime tiredness, longer sleeps latency, and reduced sleep duration. The significance of addressing poor sleep among adolescents and young adults is underscored by recent research linking it to adverse physical and psychological health outcomes, such as mood disturbances, impaired cognitive function, and increased risk incidence of hypertension and diabetes. Aim: To evaluate the effects of smartphone usage on sleep quality among individuals using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and hypnogram data. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, sleep patterns were assessed using the PSQI questionnaire and Prime Nap sleep tracker app (version 1.1.4). The study was conducted by Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The data was collected in the form of a hypnogram and the study was conducted in the participants’ homes (under domicile conditions) in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India from March 2020 to April 2020. A total of 60 participants (both male and female) in the age group of 15-25 years were recruited and divided into two groups: one comprising 30 individuals with regular prolonged exposure to smartphone screens at night, and the other consisting of 30 individuals who experienced minimal or no smartphone exposure once they prepared to sleep. Descriptive statistics were applied to the collected data using Microsoft Excel and IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 25.0. Results: Adding up the average scores of the seven factors gives a global PSQI score from 0 to 21, with 0-4 indicating good sleep and 5-21 indicating poor sleep. Among those who used smartphones regularly at night time, 20 participants (66.67%) had PSQI score >5 and poor sleep quality, 24 participants (80%) had prolonged sleep latency, 18 participants (60%) had poor sleep duration, 27 participants (90%) had sleep disturbances, and 22 participants (73.33%) had increased daytime dysfunction. Hypnogram abnormalities were seen in >15 participants (50%) of subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of smartphone addiction is widely acknowledged in the medical literature, highlighting the need for its assessment, especially among adolescents and young adults. The study reveals that poor sleeping habits among participants were attributable either to a lack of awareness or neglect. By recognising the importance of adequate sleep, improvement in the quality of daily activities can be made by reducing daily screen time, consequently alleviating both physical and mental stress. Furthermore, the findings have implications for individuals whose work involves prolonged exposure to computer screens, especially during night time.