Bedtime mobile phone use and sleep in adults.
Exelmans L, Van den Bulck J. · 2015
View Original AbstractAdults who use mobile phones after lights out experience significantly worse sleep quality, longer time falling asleep, and increased daytime fatigue.
Plain English Summary
Researchers surveyed 844 adults in Belgium about their mobile phone use at bedtime and sleep quality. They found that people who sent texts or made calls after turning off the lights had worse sleep quality, took longer to fall asleep, and experienced more daytime fatigue. The effects were strongest in younger adults, while older adults showed different patterns including earlier wake times and shorter sleep duration.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to the growing body of research linking bedtime device use to sleep disruption. What makes this research particularly valuable is its focus on adults rather than just teenagers, and its use of validated sleep assessment tools like the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The finding that 60% of adults bring their phones to bed reflects how deeply these devices have penetrated our most intimate spaces. The age-related differences are especially noteworthy - younger adults experienced more fatigue and later wake times, while older adults showed shortened sleep duration. This suggests our phones may be disrupting natural sleep patterns differently across age groups. The reality is that your bedroom should be a sanctuary for rest, not a command center for digital communication.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
This cross-sectional study set out to examine the association between bedtime mobile phone use and sleep among adults.
A sample of 844 Flemish adults (18–94 years old) participated in a survey about electronic media use...
Half of the respondents owned a smartphone, and six out of ten took their mobile phone with them to ...
Findings suggest that bedtime mobile phone use is negatively related to sleep outcomes in adults, too. It warrants continued scholarly attention as the functionalities of mobile phones evolve rapidly and exponentially.
Show BibTeX
@article{l_2015_bedtime_mobile_phone_use_2070,
author = {Exelmans L and Van den Bulck J.},
title = {Bedtime mobile phone use and sleep in adults.},
year = {2015},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953615302458},
}