Does Screen Time Before Bed Really Affect Sleep Health?
By Movieguide® Contributor
A new study finds that not all screen time before bed will negatively impact sleep — but parents should still be cautious when it comes to letting their kids use phones or tablets before bed.
The Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics published a study that concluded that “objectively measured screen time in the 2 hours before bed had no association with most measures of sleep health.”
The researchers did admit that “particularly interactive screen activities, such as gaming and multitasking, was associated with less sleep,” but overall, “The findings showed that not all screen time before bed was associated with impaired sleep, suggesting that presleep recommendations require modification.”
WLFI News 18 reported on the study’s findings, explaining that “there was no interference with sleep in kids using devices in the two hours before bed, but letting them stay on the phone under the covers did have a negative effect.”
“Once kids are in bed, screens and sleep start vying for the same slice of time, and that’s where a negative impact on their sleep creeps in,” the outlet continued.
While JAMA Pediatrics’ study concluded that there were no real negative side effects to screen time before bed, many other sources caution parents against letting kids use screens in the hours before bedtime.
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends “turn[ing] off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime.”
Joanna Cooper, M.D., a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist with the Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation, explained, “The light from our screens can delay our transition to sleep, even if we are engaged in some soothing activity online. But it’s more likely that our evening texting, television shows or video games are stimulating in themselves, keeping the brain busy and wound up, and even causing adrenaline rushes instead of calm.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the negative side effects of screen time before bed:
A new study has uncovered the true impact social media scrolling before bed has on Americans’ sleep quality.
“If you’re guilty of using your phone right before bed, you could be tricking your brain into thinking it’s still daytime, thanks to the blue light your phone emits,” Mattress Next Day reported.
The Sleep Foundation explained that the blue light given off by phones and laptop screens can “reduce or delay the natural production of melatonin in the evening and decrease feelings of sleepiness. Blue light can also reduce the amount of time you spend in slow-wave and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, two stages of the sleep cycle that are vital for cognitive functioning.”
The Mattress Next Day study found that most Americans spend time on messaging apps like WhatsApp and social media platforms like X, TikTok and Instagram before bed.
“Despite there being lots of research showing that blue light can affect sleep, more than two-thirds of Americans admit to using phones, iPads and other electronic devices before bed,” the study continued.
In another study published by the National Library of Medicine, researchers found that “using mobile phones during bedtime affected sleep,” and that reducing the use of phones before bedtime “increased sleep duration, positive affect, and working memory.”
