Is artificial light from tablets and smart phones affecting sleep pattern in youngsters?

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Original Article

Author Details : Prabha V, Manjunatha, Prakash

Volume : 4, Issue : 4, Year : 2017

Article Page : 542-545

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Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Global warming and industrialization has affected public health. Modern world has explored a popularity of hand-held digital devices. The advent of electronic devices has significantly impacted on the sleep-wake patterns because of the LED light. Good quality sleep and adequate amount of sleep are important in order to have better cognitive performance and avoid health problems and psychiatric disorders. Lack of sleep affects alertness, concentration, memory leading to later developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, depression and stroke in adults and concentration problems in children. Hence the current study was designed to explore artificial light from tablets and smart phones affects sleep pattern in youngsters.
Aim: To assess the Quality, pattern and daytime sleepiness young healthy male subjects exposed to artificial light from electronic gadgets.
Materials and Method: Fifty young healthy males in the age group of 18 -25 years were included for the study. Informed consent was taken from the participants who volunteers for the study. The Quality and pattern of sleep were assessed by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Global PSQI score ranges from 0 to 21; the higher the score is, the worse the sleep quality. A global score equal or greater than 5 indicates poor sleep quality in the last month. Daytime sleepiness was assessed by The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (EPSS) over the last month. EPSS score equal or greater than 7 indicates daytime sleepiness.
Results: Use of smart phones at bedtime (2.08±0.45) positively correlated with global PSQI & EPSS score (r = 0.79, r = 0.8, p<0.01). On the other hand, sleep duration (6.23±0.53) was negatively correlated with global PSQI score (6.24±1.07) & EPSS score (6.64±1.39), (r₁ = -0.81, r₂ = -0.75, p<0.01).
Conclusion: Our data suggests that individuals using smart phones for a longer duration at bedtime have poor quality of sleep and increased daytime sleepiness. Sleep disturbance can be avoided by dimming the screen brightness and holding the gadget about 1 foot away from the face can stop the light from interfering with a good night’s sleep.

Keywords: Sleep pattern, PSQI, EPSS, Artificial light, and Tablets

How to cite : Prabha V, Manjunatha, Prakash, Is artificial light from tablets and smart phones affecting sleep pattern in youngsters?. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2017;4(4):542-545

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