Passive vs. Active Phone Use Effects on Sleep
School Name
Chapin High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Psychology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Teenagers’ sleep quality has declined in recent years alongside increased smartphone use, especially during the hours leading up to sleep. While prior research has established that nighttime phone use negatively affects adolescent sleep, fewer studies directly compare the effects of active phone use versus passive phone exposure. This study investigates the extent to which active phone use (texting, social media engagement, calling) versus passive phone exposure (watching videos without interaction or having a phone nearby) before bedtime affects sleep quality in female dancers 14-18. Using a true experimental, qualitative design, participants are randomly assigned to one of three conditions: active phone use for 60 minutes before bed, passive phone exposure for 60 mins, or a control group with no phone use for at least 60 minutes before sleep. Sleep quality is measured using wearable sleep trackers and daily self-reported sleep journals, capturing data on sleep duration, sleep latency, awakenings, percentage in deep sleep, and perceived restfulness. Data is analyzed using statistical comparisons, including ANOVA to determine statistically significant differences between groups. It is hypothesized that active phone use will result in the poorest sleep outcomes due to increased cognitive and emotional stimulation, while passive exposure will have a moderate negative effect compared to the control group. Findings from this study aim to clarify how different forms of phone use uniquely impact adolescent sleep and contribute to more specific, evidence-based recommendations for healthier nighttime phone habits among teenagers.
Recommended Citation
Agostini Dias, Daniela, "Passive vs. Active Phone Use Effects on Sleep" (2026). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 13.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2026/all/13
Location
Furman Hall 230
Start Date
3-28-2026 9:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
Passive vs. Active Phone Use Effects on Sleep
Furman Hall 230
Teenagers’ sleep quality has declined in recent years alongside increased smartphone use, especially during the hours leading up to sleep. While prior research has established that nighttime phone use negatively affects adolescent sleep, fewer studies directly compare the effects of active phone use versus passive phone exposure. This study investigates the extent to which active phone use (texting, social media engagement, calling) versus passive phone exposure (watching videos without interaction or having a phone nearby) before bedtime affects sleep quality in female dancers 14-18. Using a true experimental, qualitative design, participants are randomly assigned to one of three conditions: active phone use for 60 minutes before bed, passive phone exposure for 60 mins, or a control group with no phone use for at least 60 minutes before sleep. Sleep quality is measured using wearable sleep trackers and daily self-reported sleep journals, capturing data on sleep duration, sleep latency, awakenings, percentage in deep sleep, and perceived restfulness. Data is analyzed using statistical comparisons, including ANOVA to determine statistically significant differences between groups. It is hypothesized that active phone use will result in the poorest sleep outcomes due to increased cognitive and emotional stimulation, while passive exposure will have a moderate negative effect compared to the control group. Findings from this study aim to clarify how different forms of phone use uniquely impact adolescent sleep and contribute to more specific, evidence-based recommendations for healthier nighttime phone habits among teenagers.
