A recent study conducted by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Université Laval has challenged the previously widespread notion that using a smartphone before bed worsens the quality of sleep in adults.
This study, conducted on over 1,000 adults across Canada, showed that the overall sleep regimen, including sleep timing and daytime alertness, was approximately the same for people who used gadgets every night and those who did not use them at all. The results of the study were published in the journal Sleep Health.
It is noteworthy that adults who used screens almost every night recorded the best sleep timing and maximum daytime alertness. Conversely, the worst sleep regimen was recorded in the group that used screens irregularly—once a week or less.
The researchers indicate that previous generalized conclusions about the blue light emission from screens did not take into account critical factors such as age, time, and light intensity. There is a basis for caution in adolescents who have increased sensitivity to light, but as people age, they become less sensitive, which is due to natural age-related changes.
The study authors note that besides the frequency of device use, it is important how adults use screens before bed, as some applications facilitate relaxation, while others cause emotional arousal.
The scientists advise adults, as an experiment, to maintain their usual screen usage pattern for one week and then, for the following week, to stop using the devices at least one hour before going to sleep. If they do not notice a significant difference in sleep quality, it means that, similar to the study data, the smartphone is not the cause of their sleep problem.
