The Relationship Between Screen Time and Sleep Duration in Children

Abstract

Excess screen time (ST), low sleep duration (SLD), and physical inactivity, are risk factors for childhood obesity. Also, excess ST has been associated with poorer sleep quality and shorter SLD. The American Sleep Foundation recommends 9-11 hours of sleep per night for school aged children. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between ST and SLD among children who participated in a school based nutrition and physical activity intervention. METHODS: Cross sectional analysis of 5th grade public school students (N =742, mean age 10.5 years, range 9-13 years). Participants self-reported their ST, SLD, and wake time. RESULTS: A Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a small but significant negative correlation between ST and SLD (r = -0.13, p < 0.01). A one-way ANOVA comparison between three groups categorized into “low”, “medium”, and “high” ST levels showed a significant difference in SLD between groups (F 2,739) = 6.82, p < 0.001). Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated the mean SLD for the low ST group (M =10.17, SD =1.20) was significantly higher compared to the SLD in the high ST group (M = 9.77, SD =1.29), but the Cohen’s effect size value (d = 0.34) indicated a small difference in magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest an inverse relationship between ST and SLD. The children categorized with low ST had significantly higher SLD versus children with high ST, though the mean hours of sleep for all groups met current recommendations. Intervention studies in youth should consider incorporating strategies to decrease ST in youth not only increase physical activity, but also to improve SLP duration. Funding Sources: -Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan; -Michigan State University Extension USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; -Superior Health Foundation, Marquette MI.