Cabre-Riera A, Torrent M, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Vrijheid M, Cardis E, Guxens M. Telecommunication devices use, screen time and sleep in adolescents. Environmental Research. Available online 1 November 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.10.036
Highlights
• Telecommunication and other screen devices use was collected in adolescents• Both subjective and objective sleep measures were assessed• Tablet use and mobile phone dependency were associated with poorer sleep• Frequency of cordless phone calls was associated with poorer sleep• Public health recommendations on telecommunication devices use should be a priority
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the association between telecommunication and other screen devices and subjective and objective sleep measures in adolescents at 17–18 years.
Methods Cross-sectional study on adolescents aged 17–18 years from a Spanish population-based birth cohort established in Menorca in 1997–1998. Information on devices use was collected using self-reported questionnaires. Mobile Phone Problematic Use Scale was used to assess mobile phone use dependency. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess subjective sleep (n=226). ActiGraph wGT3X-BT for 7 nights was used to assess objective sleep (n=110).
Results One or more cordless phone calls/week was associated with a lower sleep quality [Prevalence Ratio PR 1.30 (95%CI 1.04; 1.62)]. Habitual and frequent problematic mobile phone use was associated with a lower sleep quality [PR 1.55 (95%CI 1.03; 2.33) and PR 1.67 (95%CI 1.09; 2.56), respectively]. Higher tablet use was associated with decreased sleep efficiency and increased minutes of wake time after sleep onset [β −1.15 (95%CI −1.99; −0.31) and β 7.00 (95%CI 2.40; 11.60) per increase of 10 minutes/day of use, respectively]. No associations were found between other devices and sleep measures.
Conclusions Tablet use, mobile phone use dependency, and frequency of cordless phone were related to an increase of subjective and objective sleep problems in adolescents. These results seem to indicate that sleep displacement, mental arousal, and exposure to blue light emission might play a more important role on sleep than a high RF-EMF exposure to the brain. However, more studies are needed assessing personal RF-EMF levels to draw conclusions.