Researchers studying university students have found that those who stay up late are more likely to develop unhealthy patterns of smartphone and social media use. The study, published in PLOS One, suggests that feelings of loneliness and anxiety explain much of the connection.
Circadian preference and digital behavior
People differ in their natural sleep-wake cycles. Morning types tend to rise early, while evening types stay up later. Young adults often lean toward the evening pattern, especially during university years. Past research linked eveningness with addictive behaviors, but the reasons behind the link to technology use remained unclear.
Study design
The research team collected data from 407 students aged 18 to 25. Participants completed questionnaires that measured their smartphone dependence, social media use, anxiety and depression, loneliness, sleep quality, and circadian preference. The researchers then analyzed whether emotional and sleep-related factors explained the relationship between chronotype and problematic technology use.
Findings on smartphones
Evening types scored higher for problematic smartphone use than morning or intermediate types. When the researchers tested potential explanations, loneliness emerged as the key factor. Students who felt isolated were more likely to show signs of unhealthy smartphone dependence, such as distress when unable to use their device or allowing phone use to interfere with daily life. Anxiety, depression, and poor sleep did not act as mediators in this case.
Findings on social media
Patterns differed when looking at social media. Both loneliness and anxiety explained the higher risk among evening types. After taking these factors into account, the direct link between eveningness and social media addiction was no longer significant. This suggests that the emotional states, not the sleep schedule itself, drive the behavior.
Role of sleep quality
Poor sleep was common among evening types, but it did not explain the relationship with problematic technology use. This contrasts with earlier studies showing links between insomnia and internet addiction. The current findings suggest that loneliness and anxiety are stronger predictors for young adults in this context.
Limitations
The study focused only on university students, which may limit how widely the results apply. All data were self-reported, so accuracy depended on how participants described their own experiences. Because the study was cross-sectional, it cannot show cause and effect. Long-term research will be needed to test whether eveningness leads to problematic use or if other patterns are involved.
Implications
The results highlight the role of emotional health in digital habits. Support programs for students may be more effective if they focus on loneliness and anxiety, rather than simply telling young people to cut down on screen time. The findings also suggest that evening hours, when many services are unavailable, may be the most vulnerable period for those at risk.
Wider context
The study adds to a growing body of evidence on how technology use interacts with mental health. For young adults who are naturally active late at night, smartphones and social media can become tools to cope with negative feelings. These habits may provide short-term relief but often fail to resolve the underlying problems.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.
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