Using smartphones or other screen based devices before bed is a common aspect of modern life, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, it can cause a lot of harm among adolescents. Researchers recently worked on a new study which can be found in the Journal of Affective Disorders which shed some light on the impact that pre-sleep screentime can have on teenagers and children who are going through puberty.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the blue light that comes from screens can have a detrimental affect on circadian rhythms. It can lead to poor sleep quality which is harmful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up resulting in long term mental health depreciation over time.
Another downside of screentime before bed is that it could lead to something called social jetlag. This can cause further issues among adolescents, exacerbating any emotional problems they may have and making them worse than might have been the case otherwise.
Adolescents that use screens excessively prior to going to bed might find it unnecessarily difficult to match their biological and social clocks. This can pose problems later on in life, as adolescents might not be able to wake up early enough to be productive as they enter adulthood with all things having been considered and taken into account.
One major revelation that comes from this latest study is that healthier sleep habits must be encouraged among adolescents as often as possible. Failing to do so could cause ripple effects that are hard to predict, yet they will nonetheless be a net negative for adolescents in coming years. The abundance of emotional problems and social friction that can be seen in the world today could become a great deal worse if this problem is not solved as quickly as possible.
The goal here is to facilitate natural sleep patterns among adolescents. Reducing screentime, especially before bed, is crucial to making that happen which should make it a priority for parents.
Read next: New Study Confirms Link Between Extended Internet Usage and Depression Among Teenage Girls
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the blue light that comes from screens can have a detrimental affect on circadian rhythms. It can lead to poor sleep quality which is harmful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up resulting in long term mental health depreciation over time.
Another downside of screentime before bed is that it could lead to something called social jetlag. This can cause further issues among adolescents, exacerbating any emotional problems they may have and making them worse than might have been the case otherwise.
Adolescents that use screens excessively prior to going to bed might find it unnecessarily difficult to match their biological and social clocks. This can pose problems later on in life, as adolescents might not be able to wake up early enough to be productive as they enter adulthood with all things having been considered and taken into account.
One major revelation that comes from this latest study is that healthier sleep habits must be encouraged among adolescents as often as possible. Failing to do so could cause ripple effects that are hard to predict, yet they will nonetheless be a net negative for adolescents in coming years. The abundance of emotional problems and social friction that can be seen in the world today could become a great deal worse if this problem is not solved as quickly as possible.
The goal here is to facilitate natural sleep patterns among adolescents. Reducing screentime, especially before bed, is crucial to making that happen which should make it a priority for parents.
Read next: New Study Confirms Link Between Extended Internet Usage and Depression Among Teenage Girls
