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Smartphone Usage Patterns and Sleep Behavior in Demographic Groups: Retrospective Observational Study

Wang T, Seiger A, Markowetz A, Andone I, Błaszkiewicz K, Penzel T

Journal of medical Internet research, 2025

1,074 participants · 3 citations

Abstract

Background: Although previous studies have examined the relationship between smartphone usage and sleep disorders, research on demographic differences in smartphone usage and nocturnal smartphone inactivity patterns remains limited. This study introduces "nocturnal smartphone inactivity duration" as a proxy indicator to address the limitation of lacking direct sleep data and to further investigate the association between smartphone usage patterns and sleep characteristics.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate demographic differences and relationships between daily smartphone usage and nocturnal smartphone inactivity patterns.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected from the Murmuras app from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. A total of 1074 participants were included, categorized by gender, age, highest degree, employment status, and smartphone usage purpose. All participants consented to participate in the study through the app. To explore the relationship between smartphone usage and nocturnal smartphone inactivity, we first calculated each participant's daily smartphone usage duration (including app usage) and duration of nocturnal smartphone inactivity; then, we assessed the normality and homogeneity of variance tests within each demographic category. Based on the results, the Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to potentially identify differences between groups. Finally, correlation and regression analyses were conducted to explore…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 1,074 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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