Teenagers who spend more time watching TV, using iPads and playing electronic games take longer to fall asleep and get poorer quality rest. A new study suggests the 1 in use of electronic media devices by children could 2 physical and mental health.
The 16-19-year-olds were asked how much screen time they 3 outside school hours, and on what activities,for any of six electronic 4 : computer; smartphone; Mp3 player; and TV. They were also asked 5 about their sleep routine on weekdays and at weekends: when they normally went to bed and 6 up; how much sleep they needed to feel relaxed;and how 7 it took them to get to sleep.
The study found 8 quality sleep was linked to more time spent on such devices, and it 9 took more than an hour to drop off. Total daytime screen use of more than four hours was linked to a 49 per cent greater 10 of taking longer than 60 minutes to 11 .
On average, the teens said they needed 8-9 hours of sleep to feel 12 .But those who spent more than two 13 emailing or chatting online were more than three times as likely to 14 for less than five hours. Those 15 more than four hours in front of any screen were 3.5 times as 16 to sleep for less than five hours. Computers were the device that cause most 17 because many children are addicted in computer games.
Dr MariHysing said 18 use may simply replace sleeping time or it may 19 sleep by stimulating the nervous system. It is also 20 that the light from electronic devices may change a teenager's body clock.