Screen Time and Sleep

August has long been the time of the lazy, hazy days of summer. Days for children to play hide-and-go-seek and stay out until the streetlights turn on. The advent of multiple screens and the internet changed all of that. We have all read about the effect of screens and social media on the well-being of our children. James Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” is on the best-seller list with its thesis about the contribution of screen time and social media to the mental health of children. We also know about the effects of being sedentary on the rising rates of childhood obesity.

What about sleep? Adequate sleep is a cornerstone for good health. Does increased screen time affect the quality of sleep? In the June issue of the journal, Canadian Family Physician, Kyle Gomes and Dr. Ryan Goldman answer this question. They note that 38% of Canadian girls and 30 % of boys from age 11 to 15 have social media. The amount of time spent on screens has increased since the pandemic. Time spent on screens takes away from time that could be spent on activities, such as exercise, that improve the quality of sleep. Engaging content on screens can make it difficult to fall asleep. 

Studies in Finland and China have shown a decrease in both quantity and quality of sleep when children are engaged in more screen time. This has far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of our children.

Caregivers have one more argument in the armamentarium to argue against screen time. Not only does more screen time affect our physical and mental health, it also affects our sleep, which in turn, affects all aspects of our health!

 

Dr. Bhooma Bhayana is a family physician in London and the mother of two young men and proud grandmother of three! She continues to find wonder and enjoyment in family practice despite more than 30 years on the job!