Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Abstract
Background: Prevalence of sleep disturbances, latency, and limited sleeping duration are highest
during the adolescence phase. The possible cause is adoption of sedentary behavior that involves
excessive screen time due to exposure to digital and electronic devices among adolescents. When
the sleep quality is compromised it contributes to adverse health outcomes.
Aim: The aim of this thesis is to explore the relationship between screen time and sleep quality
among adolescents in Nordic countries
Methods: The systematic literature review approach was considered in this research and a
narrative synthesis was performed to determine whether there was a connection between screen
time and sleep quality through the assessment of qualitative (n=4), quantitative (n=14), cross-
sectional (n=9), and cohort (n=1) studies. A sample size of 28 articles was considered after the
articles fulfilled the inclusion criterion standards. The population of the study comprised
adolescents within the age bracket of 10 and 20 years in primary, high school, and university.
The sleep quality outcomes that were measured include duration, latency, efficiency, and
disturbances. Besides, the screen time outcomes that were measures are timing, type, and
duration.
Results: There is a significant association between sleep timing including daytime and nighttime
use of digital and electronic devices with the sleep quality outcomes. Also, there is a positive
relationship between duration of screen time and sleep quality outcomes among adolescents in
Nordic countries. However, there was an insignificant relationship between type of digital
devices either smartphone, tablet, computer, or television with the sleep quality outcomes of
adolescents.
2Conclusions: The research outcomes showed that high screen time in regards to timing such as
daytime and nighttime contributes to low quality sleep outcomes among adolescents in Nordic
countries, but the type of devices is not important. There was significant evidence on prolonged
screen time duration and low sleep quality. Insignificant relationships were found between the
type of screen and screen time with sleep quality. Future researchers need to take a specific
approach in regards to the topic by focusing on effects of high screen time on the sleep quality of
adolescents. These findings might have positive implications in the public health context in
consideration of increased digital devices across Nordic countries and the increased prevalence
on low quality sleep among adolescents that is likely to increase their health risks.
Keywords: Adolescents, screen time, sleep quality, Nordic region, Behavior, Health.
2024. , p. 45
Adolescents, Screen time, Sleep quality, Health, Nordic region, Behavior.
This thesis uses a comprehensive literature review of 28 studies to investigate how screen time affects the quality of sleep that teenagers in Nordic countries get. Teenagers who use digital devices more often tend to have higher screen times, which contributes to their frequent sleep disruptions and poorer quality of sleep. In order to measure sleep length, latency, efficiency, and disruptions in connection to the timing, type, and duration of screen time, the study analysed qualitative, quantitative, cross-sectional, and cohort studies concentrating on teenagers aged 10 to 20. The results suggest that while the type of device used had no discernible effect, there are substantial connections between screen time—both during the day and at night—and poor sleep quality. These findings highlight the necessity for additional study on the relationship between screen time length and teenage sleep, which has significant ramifications for public health.