The Differential Associations Between Passive and Interactive Screentime and Sleep Duration Among 8th and 11th Grade Adolescents

TL;DR

This study finds that different types of screen time, like watching TV or playing video games, affect how much sleep adolescents get, and these effects vary by grade, gender, and ethnicity.

Contribution

The study reveals that passive and interactive screen time have distinct impacts on sleep duration, varying by demographic factors.

Findings

Among 8th grade boys and Hispanic 8th grade girls, over 2 hours of video/computer gaming daily is linked to shorter sleep.

For 11th graders, TV screen time is associated with longer sleep duration.

The effects of screen time on sleep differ by grade, gender, and ethnicity.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
•Watching TV and playing video/computer games has differential associations with sleep duration among adolescents, and these associations differ by grade, gender, and ethnicity.

Watching TV and playing video/computer games has differential associations with sleep duration among adolescents, and these associations differ by grade, gender, and ethnicity.

What are the implications of the main findings?
•These contextual differences in screentime should be considered when exploring how media use influences other health behaviors and outcomes. Researchers and policymakers involved in creating screentime guidelines should take into account the differences between passive and interactive media use. In essence, not all screentime is created equally.

These contextual differences in screentime should be considered when exploring how media use influences other health behaviors and outcomes. Researchers and policymakers involved in creating screentime guidelines should take into account the differences between passive and interactive media use. In essence, not all screentime is created equally.

Background: Although several studies have reported associations between screentime and shortened sleep duration among adolescents, contextual relationships between different forms of screentime are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine how television (TV) watching (passive media use) and video/computer gaming (interactive media use) are associated with short sleep duration among 8th and 11th grade adolescents. Methods: We used data from adolescents (8th and 11th grade students) who participated in the Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (Texas SPAN) survey in 2015–2016. Sleep duration was the outcome variable, which was dichotomized into short sleep duration (less than 8 h) and meeting sleep recommendations (more than 8 h). Independent variables included daily TV screentime and video/computer game screentime. We used weighted logistic regression models to understand associations between sleep duration and both TV screentime and video/computer game screentime. Results: Among both 8th grade boys and Hispanic 8th grade girls, spending more than 2 h/day playing video/computer games was associated with greater odds of shorter sleep duration. Among 11th graders, TV screentime was associated with lower odds of shorter sleep duration. Conclusions: Watching TV and playing video/computer games have differential associations with sleep duration among adolescents, and these associations differ by grade, gender, and ethnicity. Researchers and public health agencies interested in associations between meeting sleep recommendations and screentime in adolescents should consider these contextual differences when designing and conducting studies related to electronic media use and sleep.

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