The Effect of the Use of An Electronic Device Before Bed on Sleep Quality

Author(s)

Erin ByrdFollow

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Psychology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

2nd Place

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

It is important for people to get the proper amount of sleep each night, especially for adolescents, but it has been found that many children do not get enough sleep. Studies show that using cell phones and other electronic devices before bed can negatively interfere with sleep (White et al., 2011). The purpose of this experiment was to see if sleep quality would improve when electronics were not used before bed or when Night Shift was used during electronic device use before bed. It was predicted that not using an electronic device before bed would be the best for improving sleep quality and increasing REM sleep, followed by using Night Shift during electronic device use before bed. Four high school students participated in the study for a total of 60 nights. They used their cell phone for 20 minutes before going to bed for the first 20 nights of experimentation, followed by using their cell phone with Night Shift turned on for 20 minutes before going to bed for the next 20 nights, and then not using their phone before going to bed for the last 20 nights. The hypothesis was partially supported because the Tukey test that was performed after the MANOVA and ANOVA found that only the sleep quality scores for No Phone Use were significantly higher than Phone Use (w/o Night Shift) (p = 0.014) and Phone Use (w/ Night Shift) (p = 0.004), while Phone Use (w/ Night Shift) ended up being slightly lower than Phone Use (w/o Night Shift). Also, only the REM sleep percentages for No Phone Use were significantly higher than just Phone Use (w/o Night Shift) (p = 0.070). In conclusion, eliminating electronic device use before bed improved both sleep quality and REM sleep, while using Night Shift on one’s iOS device before bed does not significantly impact sleep quality and REM sleep.

Location

Founders Hall 251 B

Start Date

3-30-2019 1:45 PM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 1:45 PM

The Effect of the Use of An Electronic Device Before Bed on Sleep Quality

Founders Hall 251 B

It is important for people to get the proper amount of sleep each night, especially for adolescents, but it has been found that many children do not get enough sleep. Studies show that using cell phones and other electronic devices before bed can negatively interfere with sleep (White et al., 2011). The purpose of this experiment was to see if sleep quality would improve when electronics were not used before bed or when Night Shift was used during electronic device use before bed. It was predicted that not using an electronic device before bed would be the best for improving sleep quality and increasing REM sleep, followed by using Night Shift during electronic device use before bed. Four high school students participated in the study for a total of 60 nights. They used their cell phone for 20 minutes before going to bed for the first 20 nights of experimentation, followed by using their cell phone with Night Shift turned on for 20 minutes before going to bed for the next 20 nights, and then not using their phone before going to bed for the last 20 nights. The hypothesis was partially supported because the Tukey test that was performed after the MANOVA and ANOVA found that only the sleep quality scores for No Phone Use were significantly higher than Phone Use (w/o Night Shift) (p = 0.014) and Phone Use (w/ Night Shift) (p = 0.004), while Phone Use (w/ Night Shift) ended up being slightly lower than Phone Use (w/o Night Shift). Also, only the REM sleep percentages for No Phone Use were significantly higher than just Phone Use (w/o Night Shift) (p = 0.070). In conclusion, eliminating electronic device use before bed improved both sleep quality and REM sleep, while using Night Shift on one’s iOS device before bed does not significantly impact sleep quality and REM sleep.