While the effects of computer and smartphone displays on our sleep are now well known, a new study published by BMJ Open posts figures to support them. The study was conducted in Norway with over 10,000 teenagers and questioned them about their habits.
The results showed that teenagers who used smartphones, tablets, iPods, computers and other devices for more than five hours a day were almost 50 percent likelier to take more than an hour to sleep, and were 3.5X more likely to sleep less than five hours at night.
Also, teenagers who used smartphones or computers were 35 and 53 hours more likely to miss two hours worth sleep. That figure is slightly less for other devices such as tablets, video games, televisions, etc.
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Remember that sleep deprivation itself is linked to dozens of other mental and physical diseases, including obesity, depression, seizures and headaches, while also affecting studies, concentration and mood the next day.
The exact effects of smartphone displays on sleep cycles aren’t clear yet. Researchers have said that they would need proper lab tests to pinpoint at the main cause, since studies such as these usually don’t focus on the length of the arm etc.
Meanwhile, you can use apps such as f.lux which control the temperature of your computer or smartphone screen depending on the time of the day. In the meantime, imposing a gadget ban an hour before you sleep might not be a bad idea either.
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