Video gaming and sleep in adults: A systematic review

Video games (VGs) are one of the most common forms of entertainment and their diffusion is constantly increasing. Although largely studied in the framework of their relationship with mental and physical health, the relationship of VGs with sleep are not yet fully understood. This review provides a systematic assessment of the studies that investigated the relationships between video gaming and sleep in adults. The review search included both online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo) and citation tracking. Twenty-six studies were included in the final qualitative analysis. Findings are described separately for subjective and objective sleep measures and then discussed considering exposure levels and VG typology. Observational studies showed an association between excessive video gaming, poor sleep quality, and delayed sleep timing, whereas habitual and/or casual use was not associated with poor sleep and some studies even showed a beneficial effect on daytime functioning. Experimental evidence shows that playing an arousing VG before sleep delays sleep onset with possible alteration of sleep structure, whereas non-arousing cognitively challenging video gaming resulted in improved sleep continuity, stability, and organization. Overall, these findings show that the effect of VGs on sleep depends on the level of arousal associated with gaming, gaming sessions’ duration, and frequency of gaming. • Habitual (max 7 h/week) and casual VG playing are not associated with negative consequences on sleep. • Addiction to video game playing is linked to negative effects on sleep quality and timing, including delayed sleep onset. • Playing an arousing VG before bedtime may increase sleep onset latency and reduce sleep efficiency. • Playing non-arousing cognitively demanding VGs may enhance sleep quality in terms of continuity, stability and organization. • Esports players represent a high-risk population for sleep complaints due to excessive video gaming.