Adolescent Screen Time and Sleep Quality: Predictive Factors and Their Effect on Academic Achievement

Adolescents’ increasing screen time has been linked to poor sleep quality, which may in turn affect academic performance. This study aimed to examine screen time patterns among Jordanian adolescents and assess their associations with sleep quality and academic achievement. A descriptive correlational study was conducted among 477 students aged 12–14 years from four randomly selected schools in northern Jordan. Participants completed the validated Questionnaire for Screen Time of Adolescents (QueST) and the Adolescent Sleep–Wake Scale–Short Version (ASWS-S), while academic performance was assessed using GPA from school records. Results showed that average screen time was 9.13 hours per day. Weekend screen time emerged as a significant negative predictor of sleep quality (β = –0.27, p = .016). Gender and school type were also significant predictors. Adolescents with screen devices in their bedrooms and those with chronic medical conditions reported higher screen time. Although total screen time did not significantly predict academic achievement, it showed a moderate negative correlation with sleep quality (r = –.18, p < .01). These findings suggest that excessive screen use, particularly on weekends, may impair sleep quality among adolescents. Interventions targeting screen habits could help enhance sleep and potentially benefit academic performance.