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TOPLINE:

A new study found that pre-sleep screen time usage, more weekend screen time, using a phone as an alarm, and video game addiction were common factors associated with later sleep patterns, poor sleep regulation, and an increased risk for obesity and adiposity in adolescents aged 11-14 years. Quality of life (QOL) partially mediated most of these associations.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a cross-sectional quantitative study (TSWS) including 62 school-going children of age 11-14 years (mean age, 12.2 years; 53.2% girls) from North-East Fife, Scotland.
• Participant demographics were self-reported. Chronotype, insomnia symptoms, sleep habits, and QOL were assessed using validated questionnaires, and sleep duration and sleep onset variability were measured using actigraphy.
• Adiposity (body fat percentage) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance, and obesity was assessed using body mass index (BMI) percentiles.
• The timing, quantity, location, and addiction of screen use were assessed using validated questionnaires.
• The potential role of QOL was investigated in the association between screen time and sleep and obesity.

TAKEAWAY:

• Frequent pre-sleep screen time usage (regression coefficient [β], 2.86; 95% CI, 1.39-4.34), frequent phone use in bed (β, 9.45; 95% CI, 3.64-15.26), videogaming addiction (β, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.06-0.61), and social media addiction (β, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.05-0.70) were significantly associated with a higher body fat percentage. Videogaming addiction (β, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.22-2.28) and social media addiction (β, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.11-3.04) were associated with higher BMI percentiles.
• Frequent post-sleep screen time usage (β, 1.64; 95% CI, 0.47-2.82), frequent pre-sleep screen time usage (β, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.45-2.82), frequent use of a phone as an alarm (compared with not; β, 8.14; 95% CI, 3.86-12.41), videogaming addiction (β, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.63), and social media addiction (β, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.04-0.51) were significantly associated with more severe insomnia symptoms in adolescents.
• Frequent pre-sleep screen time usage (β, 867.77; 95% CI, 313.04-1422.49) was significantly associated with a larger sleep onset variability in adolescents. More screen time on weekends (β, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.17-3.01) and keeping the phone in the bedroom overnight (β, −10.94; 95% CI, −19.89 to −1.98) were associated with poorer sleep habits.
• QOL partially mediated 51.4% of the association between weekend screen time and insomnia symptoms and 38.0% of the association between weekend screen time and body fat percentage.

IN PRACTICE:

"Our findings suggest that screen exposure is one of multiple contributing factors to poor sleep and increased adiposity rather than an isolated driver. Future research should examine whether a holistic approach — modifying pre-sleep screen habits alongside strategies to enhance wellbeing, increase physical activity, and improve sleep hygiene — offers a more effective multi-component solution to improving adolescent health," the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Emma Louise Gale, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It was published online on May 07, 2025, in BMC Global and Public Health.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was limited by its cross-sectional design, which prevented conclusions about causality or directionality. Participants were recruited from a single county in Scotland, limiting generalisability in terms of ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Additionally, variations in weather and daylight hours during data collection may have affected activity levels and mood.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by the University of St Andrews. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.