Association between Information and Communication Technology Usage and the Quality of Sleep among School-Aged Children during a School Week

Sandra Ononogbu; Marjut Wallenius; Raija-Leena Punamäki; Lea Saarni; Harri Lindholm; Clas-Håkan Nygård

doi:10.1155/2014/315808

Association between Information and Communication Technology Usage and the Quality of Sleep among School-Aged Children during a School Week

Sleep Disord. 2014:2014:315808. doi: 10.1155/2014/315808. Epub 2014 Jan 28.

Authors

Sandra Ononogbu¹, Marjut Wallenius², Raija-Leena Punamäki², Lea Saarni³, Harri Lindholm⁴, Clas-Håkan Nygård¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Medisiinarinkatu 3, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
² School of Social Sciences and Humanities/Psychology, University of Tampere, Kalevankatu 5, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
³ Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Kuntokatu 3, 33520 Tampere, Finland.
⁴ Centre of Excellence of Health and Work Ability, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.

Abstract

Objective. To determine the association between intensity of information and communication technology (ICT) usage and quality of sleep in school-aged children during a school week. Methods. In all 61 subjects, 10-14 years of age, a quasiexperimental laboratory study where criterions for inclusion were absence of prior medical condition and duration of ICT use. A portable device (Holter monitor) was used to measure heart rate variability (HRV) over a 24-hour period, while activity diary was used to record in 15-minute intervals ICT use and sleep and wake up time. Low and high ICT user groups were formed according to their intensity of ICT use. Statistical analysis was done with two independent samples tests and factorial ANCOVA. Results. The higher ICT users showed a lower sleep time standard deviation of normal to normal interval (SDNN) measures in comparison to the low ICT users. Conclusion. The intensive ICT use was associated with poorer quality of sleep indicated by physiological measures among children and adolescents. Knowing the crucial role of healthy sleep in this age, the results are reason for concern.