Does Screen Time Associate with Sleep Quality in Urban Teenagers? A Quantitative Survey-Based Study.

Abstract

The life of teenagers has changed significantly due to the rate at which digital technology is gaining popularity and this is particularly where smartphones, tablets, and computers are readily accessible in urban areas. This study aims to discover whether an increase in screen time can negatively or positively impact the quality of sleep of teens and whether excessive screen time can lead to poor sleep. Questionnaires were given to teenagers aged 13 to 19 asking them to complete a primary poll in which they had to answer their daily screen time, bedtime routines, and also how well they thought they were sleeping. The data collected was subject to a considerable amount of preparation to eliminate missing numbers, outliers and errors. Correlations and hypothesis were done through statistical and mathematical modelling methods such as regression analysis. According to the results of the study, the correlation between the length of screen time and sleep quality is statistically significant and negative, the more the screen time, the less the sleep period and more sleep disturbances. The further analysis of the data presented by exploratory data analysis showed that the negative effect of screen exposure at night and especially, before bedtime, was more severe than the use of screens during the day. Due to the findings of this study, it is evident that the health and well being of the teens can be enhanced by the means of the public health programs and family guidance. The research contributes to what has already been authored with the first-hand information and predictive modelling to arrive at real evidence. In future research, wearable technology may be applied to obtain more objective data regarding sleep, and the sample size may be increased to include individuals living in the countryside to obtain a more comprehensive image. The research finds that one of the viable options to improve the quality of sleep in urban adolescents is to restrict the amount of time spent in the evening before the screen.