9 months ago
Bedtime Phone Use: New Study Challenges Long-Held Beliefs
A new study from Canada says that using your phone before bed might not be as bad for your sleep as people thought.
It found that people who used their phones every night didn't sleep worse than those who didn't.
The study suggests that what you do on your phone, like looking at upsetting things, might be more important than the light from the screen.
A new study suggests bedtime phone use may not harm sleep as previously thought
The study found little difference in sleep health between frequent and infrequent users
Previous research often overlooked factors like age, timing, and exposure intensity
Engaging with upsetting or alerting content on phones can interfere with sleep
More than 80% of participants reported using screens at bedtime in the past month
- Who
- Over 1,000 Canadian adults
- What
- Participated in a study about bedtime phone use and sleep health
- Where
- Canada
- When
- The study was published in October 2023
- Why
- To investigate the relationship between bedtime screen use and sleep
Previous Beliefs
New Study Findings
Blue Light Exposure
Previous Beliefs
Causes melatonin suppression and sleep disruption
New Study Findings
May not be the main culprit; depends on age, timing, and exposure intensity
Key facts
- Study Authors
- Colleen Carney, Toronto Metropolitan University and Université Laval
- Study Participants
- Over 1,000 Canadian adults
- Publication Date
- October 2023
- Publication Journal
- Sleep Health
- Percentage of Participants Using Screens at Bedtime
- Over 80%
Quotes
Colleen Carney
Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and a co-author of the study, specializing in sleep and mood disorders.
“Many blue-light studies rely on artificial conditions that do not reflect everyday life. Some, she said, ‘stack the deck’ to make blue light appear to be the main culprit.”
firstpost.com
“It is true that we do have those studies, but in order to get those results, these studies usually pick young adults who are closer to puberty, which is really important, because that makes you light sensitive. And then they keep them in the lab overnight and all through the day, they’re in dim light all day long.”
firstpost.com
