The sleep and technology use of Americans: findings from the National Sleep Foundation's 2011 Sleep in America poll

Abstract

Study objectives: To describe the technology use and sleep quality of Americans, and the unique association between technology use and sleep disturbances.

Methods: Interviews were conducted via random digit dialing (N = 750) or the Internet (N = 758). 1,508 Americans (13-64 years old, 50% males) matched to 2009 U.S. Census data provided complete interviews. The sample was further divided into adolescents (13-18 years, N = 171), young adults (19-29 years, N = 293), middle-aged adults (30-45 years, N = 469), and older adults (46-64 years, N = 565) to contrast different generations' technology use. Participants answered a 47-item semi-structured survey, including questions about their sleep habits, and the presence and use of technology in the hour before bed in the past 2 weeks.

Results: Nine of 10 Americans reported using a technological device in the hour before bed (e.g., TVs the most popular; 60%). However, those under 30 years of age were more likely to use cell phones (72% of adolescents, 67% of young adults) than those over 30 years (36% of middle-aged, and 16% of older adults). Young adults' sleep patterns were significantly later than other age groups on both weekdays and weekend nights. Unlike passive technological devices (e.g., TV, mp3 music players), the more interactive technological devices (i.e., computers/laptops, cell phones, video game consoles) used in the hour before bed, the more likely difficulties falling asleep (β = 9.4, p < 0.0001) and unrefreshing sleep (β = 6.4, p < 0.04) were reported.

Conclusions: Technology use near bedtime is extremely prevalent in the United States. Among a range of technologies, interactive technological devices are most strongly associated with sleep complaints.

Keywords: Sleep; electronic media; interactive devices; sleep disturbances; technology.

Figure 1. Flowchart of participant recruitment using Random Digit Dialing to arrive at N = 750 quota

Figure 2. Self-reported sleep habits on weekdays and weekends between adolescents (B), young adults (C), middle adults (D) and older adults (E)

Values on top of bars represent mean bedtimes; values within bars represent mean total sleep times; values below bars represent mean rise times; alphabetic letters adjacent to means represent significant differences between age groups. For example, CDE adjacent to 7h 26m in adolescents' school day total sleep time means this value is significantly different to young- (C), middle- (D), and older adults (E).

Figure 3. Significant impacts on areas of functioning from not getting enough sleep