1111 Association Between Technology Use and Sleep: Examination of Population Data from National Sleep Foundation

Abstract Introduction Evening technology use is common and may be associated with poorer sleep health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate rates of technology before bedtime in a national sample and examine the association between technology use and sleep quality and duration. Methods We evaluated sleep and technology use among a nationally representative sample of US adults collected by the National Sleep Foundation. Participants reported their use of four classes of technology in the hour before bedtime (i.e., A) TV, smart TV, game consol, B) smartphones, C) computers, laptops, tablets, D) other devices) and where they used these devices (i.e., in the bedroom, outside of the bedroom, both in and outside the bedroom). Participants also reported their average sleep duration over the past week on both weekdays and weekends. Sleep quality was rated on a 5-point scale using a single item from the Sleep Health Index. We used weighted analyses to evaluate descriptives, as well as associations between technology use, location of technology use, and sleep duration and quality using t-tests and regression analysis while controlling for age and gender. Results Data were available for 1,009 participants (Mage = 48.2, SD = 18.0, 51.3% women). Results indicated that 90% of participants used electronic devices within one hour of bedtime, with 76.6% used electronic devices in the bedroom. The most frequently used devices before bed were TVs (71.3% of the sample and among TV watchers 49.7% used in the bedroom) and smartphones (70.6% of the sample and among smartphone users, 79.1% used in the bedroom) Individuals who used smartphones before bed had poorer sleep quality compared to those who did not use a smartphone (t(1007) = -2.19, p = 0.029). There were no other significant associations between number of devices, specific device use, or device use location with sleep duration or quality. Conclusion Technology use before bed and in the bedroom is a common occurrence, and smartphone use in the hour before bed was associated with poorer sleep quality. Given the widespread use of smartphones before bed, reducing use in the hour before bed may have implications for improving sleep health. Support (if any)