Consequences of Screen Time on Sleep Quality in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Excessive use of electronic devices can negatively impact sleep quality in children and adolescents. This scoping review mapped the literature on the effects of screen time on sleep and identified research gaps.
METHODS
Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 32 observational, experimental, and systematic review studies published up to 2025 were included (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and BVS). Screen time duration, device type, content, and exposure timing were analyzed.
RESULTS
Prolonged screen use before bedtime was associated with shorter sleep duration, increased sleep latency, and sleep fragmentation. Social media and video games were particularly linked to higher risks of insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of standardization in screen time definitions and measurement methods. Future research should evaluate interventions such as parental education programs, blue light filters, and nighttime screen use policies to mitigate screen time's negative impact on sleep quality in youth.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tryptophan Metabolism and Gut-Brain Homeostasis
- Rationale for a Multi-Factorial Approach for the Reversal of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and MCI: A Review
- Prioritized Research for the Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Chronic Disease: Recommendations From the Lifestyle Medicine Research Summit
- Relationship between sleep disorders and gut dysbiosis: what affects what?
- The role of CLOCK gene in psychiatric disorders: Evidence from human and animal research
- Genetic, Transcriptome, Proteomic, and Epidemiological Evidence for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Polymicrobial Brain Invasion as Determinant Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.