These days, kids have access to many digital devices from smartphones to tablets to entertain them and keep them occupied – making them one of the largest consumer groups of technology.
Even though more than 40 per cent of fifth graders own smartphones, very little is known about the effects on technology on the younger generation.
Previous research has suggested that the use of digital devices disrupts sleep and has found an association between technology and more inattention and higher BMIs in college-aged adolescents.
Lack of sleep in adolescents has been associated with lack of productivity, depression, lack of energy, and poor school performance according to previous studies.
Sleep is critical to a child’s developments– prompting researchers to investigate the connection between screen time before bed and its effect on the young children – particularly their quality of sleep and other aspects of their health.
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Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine asked parents of 234 children, ages 8 to 17 years, about their children’s sleep and technology-use to understand the impact of bedtime technology use on three health consequences – sleep quantity and quality, inattention, and body mass index.
The survey asked questions about the hours spent on technology – which included computers, video games, cell phone and television, hours of sleep, nutrition, hours of activity and inattentive behaviours.
On analysis of the data, the researchers found many adverse effects of the use of digital devices at bedtime.
Children who watch television at bedtime were more to be overweight or obese than children who do not watch television. Children who use their phones at bedtime were more likely to be overweight or obese than those who did not. However, no association was found between bedtime video game or computer use and an overweight or obese BMI.
There was a significant relationship between the number of hours of sleep and technology use before bedtime.
Children who watched television at bedtime reported 30 minutes less of sleep than those who did not watch television at bedtime. Children who used their phone at bedtime reported approximately 1 hour less of sleep than those who did not.
Also, children who played video games at bedtime reported 30 minutes less sleep than those who did not, and were more likely to have trouble staying asleep. Children who used a computer at bedtime were reported to have approximately 60 minutes less sleep than those who did not and were more likely to have trouble falling asleep.
This results in children being more tired the next morning contributing to higher BMIs.
The recent emergence of tablet-based toys for young children provides novel ways of learning but may inadvertently be contributing to health implications if parents are not made aware of the effects of technology use before bedtime.
This places the emphasis on doctors and paediatricians as well as parents to develop routines where digital devices are switched off during meal times and before bedtime to help children get the quality and hours of sleep they need which promotes healthy physical and mental development.
Source: Global Pediatric Health
