Smartphones, tablets and other portable technological devices can disrupt the sleep of children. Researchers reviewed several studies and found an association between the use of these devices in children and their sleeping routines.
The results of the study weren't surprising. Children suffered from insufficient sleep, poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness.
The lessons of the study are clear and disturbing. Parents should pay more attention to the potential impact of access to mobile media on children's sleep. The new British study was led by Ben Carter from the King's College London. His team looked at data from 20 previous studies on the subject of sleep quality of children and the use of media. More than 125,000 young people participated with an average age of 14 years.
Carter's group found that children did not even have to use smartphones, tablets or other devices to experience sleep problems. Just having them in your room was enough to affect their sleep. Although the study could not prove a causal relationship, researchers recommended measures to limit access to electronic devices at night.
According to The Journal, interventions must include a multidisciplinary approach from teachers and professionals of healthcare to empower parents in order to minimize harmful effects on children's health. Poor sleep has many potential consequences for the health of children.
Jama Network reported the nightly use of electronic media can delay bedtime and an increased exposure to mobile screens are capable of confusing the body's biological clock. A sound of a message or notification may even wake children up after their brains are tuned to electronic media.
Without sufficient good quality sleep, children are at a risk of higher obesity rates and type-2 diabetes, among other health conditions. In addition, children and adolescents are less able to concentrate in school and don't do well in their studies. This is because of a shift in their minds.
