As if we really needed anything else affecting a teen’s mood and sleep, recent research shows that of internet use and texting can have a serious detrimental effect on both sleep and mood. At a conference in Canada, US researchers explained that:
- More than half of kids and teens who text or surf the internet:
- Have problems falling asleep (77.5%)
- Have trouble staying asleep - all participant reported being woken up at least once per night by an electronic device
- Experience mood, behavior and cognitive problems during the day
- including ADHD, anxiety, depression, and some learning difficulties.
The study showed that on average, a teenager sends a total of 3400 electronic message per month - that is more than 100 per day! When exactly are they in school? And here was the kicker: author of the study, Dr. Peter Polos, said that on average, kids were texting or emailing 33.5 times per night to more than 3 different people (3.7)! And these electronic messages would occur anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours after the child’s bedtime!
While this is not the first time I have written about this, the data in this study are pretty amazing. What can a concerned parent do?
- Education is key-letting children know how the use of these electronic devices can affect their sleep and their performance the next day is critical in monitoring of their own behavior.
- Setting a electronic curfew- 1 hour before bed, kids need to turn off all of the electronic devices that they normally use, and participate in the Power Down Hour™:
- 20 min of finishing up things to be done for tomorrow (e.g., getting clothes ready, packing up their backpack for school, etc.)
- 20 min for hygiene-nighttime bath, shower, brushing teeth, washing face, etc. (remember to do these in a dimly lit environment)
- 20 min for a relaxation ritual: reading a book with a parent, saying nighttime prayers, spending time talking with a parent about their day, etc.
- Have the device in question out of reach- Charge cell phones in a special room and computers can be turned off or placed on a timer.
Yes, the information superhighway is a great tool for education and communication, and yes, cell phones can keep us in touch with our friends and loved ones, but when these devices begin to invade our sleeping world, as parents we need to adjust access for our kid’s better health. And parents, we can take a tip, and apply these rules to ourselves as well - my guess is our sleep and mood is also affected by nighttime emailing and texting….
Sweet Dreams,
Michael J. Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor™
I could not agree more. One thing I do as a parent is get all mobile phones after bed time as for some the temptation is too great!
Posted by: Cha | November 23, 2010 at 04:24 AM