Teen Smartphone, Tablet Use at Night Linked To Sleep Pattern Disruption

A group of researchers recently discovered that the exposure of children in the early to middle stages of puberty are "especially vulnerable" to the suppression of a hormone deemed crucial in sleep timing. The new study took into consideration the consequences brought about by the exposure of these children to light at night. The sources of the said light exposure include those from phone, tablets and other gadgets. In a nutshell, the researchers analyzed the relationship between teen sleep and the use of gadgets at night.

"Small amounts of light at night, such as light from screens, can be enough to affect sleep patterns," revealed study senior author Mary Carskadon, according to Science Daily. She went on to say, "Students who have tablets or TVs or computers -- even an 'old-school' flashlight under the covers to read -- are pushing their circadian clocks to a later timing. This makes it harder to go to sleep and wake up at times early the next morning for school." Carskadon is a professor of human behavior and psychiatry at Brown University, specifically in the Alpert Medical School. The senior author also serves as the director of chronobiology and sleep research at the E.P. Bradley Hospital in East Providence, R.I.

The study, titled "Increased sensitivity of the circadian system to light in early/mid puberty," aimed to figure out the effect of the onset of puberty among children in connection with the sensitivity to the circadian system to light. Melatonin analysis was utilized that determine the influence of the said factor among the children.

"Late adolescence is marked by a delay in sleep timing, which is partly driven by a delay shift of the circadian timing system," the researchers wrote in the official press release. The authors added, "This study examined whether the sensitivity of the circadian system to light - the primary entraining stimulus to the circadian system - differs between pre- to midpubertal and late- to post-pubertal adolescents."

According to the researchers, the results of the experiments revealed that a greater sensitivity to evening light was observed to be prevalent among children in the early pubertal stage. The researchers disclosed that the increase in the sensitivity of children to light becomes even more apparent in younger adolescents. The study covered a total of 67 participants aged 9 to 16 years old. Hence, this group of children experience disrupted sleep and sleep regulation is recommended for this affected.