New Delhi, April 5 — A new study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet has highlighted the alarming impact of excessive screen time on sleep and mental health, particularly among teenage girls. Published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health, the research reveals a strong correlation between increased screen usage, poor sleep, and elevated depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Screen Time Disrupts Sleep and Mental Well-being
Tracking data from 4,810 Swedish students aged 12 to 16 over the span of one year, researchers found that higher screen time led to poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration within just three months. This shift also pushed bedtimes to later hours, disrupting the natural sleep-wake cycle.Importantly, the study demonstrated that these sleep disturbances played a significant role in increasing depressive symptoms—especially in girls.
Gender-Based Differences in Impact
The researchers discovered key differences between how screen time affects boys and girls:- Girls: Sleep disturbances mediated the relationship between screen time and depression. In fact, 38% to 57% of the link between screen time and depressive symptoms in girls was explained by disrupted sleep.
- Boys: While boys also experienced sleep issues with increased screen use, these disruptions were not as strongly tied to later depression. Instead, the study noted that boys may express the consequences of sleep loss through externalizing behaviors rather than internal symptoms like depression.
Public Health Implications
These findings support previous research linking digital device use to mental health risks. In light of growing concerns, the Swedish Public Health Agency issued recommendations in September 2024 advising teenagers to limit leisure screen time to two to three hours per day to support healthier sleep habits.The authors believe their study "mirrors potentially beneficial public health effects" of such national screen time guidelines, especially in preventing mental health challenges among adolescents.
Conclusion
As screen usage becomes increasingly ingrained in daily life, this study underscores the importance of moderating screen time—particularly during critical developmental years. The evidence suggests that doing so may not only protect sleep quality but also reduce the risk of depression, especially among young girls.
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