If you’re reading this from a device while in bed, you may be disrupting your sleep and increasing your risk of insomnia, Norwegian researchers caution.
Using data from the Students’ Health and Well-Being Study of 2022, a nationally representative study of more than 45,000 Norwegian students between the ages of 18 and 28, the researchers found that for every hour of screen time in bed, participants got 24 fewer minutes of sleep per night and increased their odds of insomnia by 59%.
The researchers say screen time displaces rest. They recommend cutting off screen time 30-60 minutes before bedtime to help improve sleep patterns. Another tip: disable notifications on your devices to minimize disruptions throughout the night.
“Sleep problems are highly prevalent among students and have significant implications for mental health, academic performance and overall well-being,” said lead study author Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.
