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Electronic device and social network use and sleep outcomes among adolescents: the EHDLA study

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Gaya AR, Brum R, Brites K, Gaya A, de Borba Schneiders L, Duarte Junior MA, López-Gil JF · 2023

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Cell phone and social media use showed significant associations with sleep problems in adolescents, with effects differing by sex and modulated by psychosocial health factors.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This cross-sectional study of 1,101 Spanish adolescents examined associations between electronic device use (cell phones, video games, social media applications) and sleep outcomes. The study found that cell phone use was most associated with sleep duration and problems, with sex-specific differences; WhatsApp use was associated with sleep-related problems in girls, and psychosocial health emerged as a significant variable in the models.

Why This Matters

This study is not primarily an EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure study but rather a behavioral epidemiology study examining screen device use patterns and self-reported sleep outcomes. The research addresses screen time as a behavioral and lifestyle factor rather than investigating electromagnetic radiation exposure per se.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Gaya AR, Brum R, Brites K, Gaya A, de Borba Schneiders L, Duarte Junior MA, López-Gil JF (2023). Electronic device and social network use and sleep outcomes among adolescents: the EHDLA study.
Show BibTeX
@article{gaya_ar_brum_r_brites_k_gaya_a_de_borba_schneiders_l_duarte_junior_ma_lpez_gil_jf_ce3240,
  author = {Gaya AR and Brum R and Brites K and Gaya A and de Borba Schneiders L and Duarte Junior MA and López-Gil JF},
  title = {Electronic device and social network use and sleep outcomes among adolescents: the EHDLA study},
  year = {2023},
  doi = {10.1038/s41586-023-05772-8},
  
}
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05772-8PubMed: 37208650

Quick Questions About This Study

The study doesn't identify specific causes, but this timeframe coincides with massive increases in urban electromagnetic field exposure from cell towers, WiFi networks, and wireless devices that could potentially affect growth and development.
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Yes, researchers analyzed height and weight measurements from 71 million participants aged 5-19 years across 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020, making it globally comprehensive.
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