A Multicentric study of sleep patterns and electronic media usage in adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Adequate healthy sleep is essential for adolescents’ optimal cognitive, and emotional functions and physical health. With media overload and stimuli from electronic gadgets, multitasking and academic stress, students are sleeping for fewer hours, making them one of society's most sleep-deprived age groups. Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India (AACCI) conducts multicentric studies to survey the lifestyles of children and adolescents in India, which include the use of electronic media and sleep patterns. These results are shared with the management, teachers and parents and programs are held for them and the students to make them aware of the importance of improving sleep patterns and proper sleep hygiene and the risks of poor sleep habits. Methods: This paper shows the results of a multicentric college study. This data was collected from participants of AACCI Life Skills Education (LSE) workshops conducted in six different colleges in India during the period 2008 and 2010. A standardized and validated Questionnaire on Life style has been created by AACCI for use in these multicentric surveys The sample comprised 289 college students from six groups – A) and B) 62 First year Junior college from Mumbai (age range 16-18 years; 32 students of high socioeconomic status from an elite college and 30 students from middle socio-economic status), C) 113 First-year medical students from Pune (age range 18-19 years), D) 32 students from Vocational college from Mumbai (age range 19-21 years), E) 40 Final year nursing college From Delhi (age range 19-24) and F) 42 M.Tech Post Graduate (PG) Engineering Hyderabad (age range 20-25 years). Ethical clearance: Ethics approval was obtained from AACCI Institutional ethics committee. Permission and consents: Prior permissions were taken from the college Principals to conduct the workshop, including parental permission for the participants below 18 years of age. Written assent (16-17 years) consent (>18 years) was obtained from the students by including it in the questionnaire form. Statistical analysis: The data has not been analysed statistically, as the sample size at each centre was small and their backgrounds were different. Descriptive comparisons have been made across students’ sleep patterns and electronic usage. Results: Results indicated that students from the younger age group slept longer than those from the older group. Nursing and medical students had less sleep hours due to erratic schedules. PG engineering students had the most regular sleep hours. Regarding electronic devices, PG Engineering students used the computer and internet for >6 hours daily; nurses used the computer internet and mobile the least. Mumbai students watched Television the most while engineering students watched it the least. AACCI conducted workshops for these students to inculcate in them, a healthy lifestyle.