Impact of high-frequency email and instant messaging (E/IM) interactions during the hour before bed on self-reported sleep duration and sufficiency in female Australian children and adolescents

Abstract Introduction Social media interactions via email and instant messaging (E/IM) are common in children and adolescents and may lead to insufficient sleep. This study investigated associations between high-frequency E/IM use to interact with peers, perceived insufficient sleep, and reduced time in bed (TIB) in female children and adolescents. Methods The Children's Report of Sleep Patterns was completed by 189 female primary and secondary school students (8-16 years old). Responses were categorized as binary variables (high-frequency use vs not high-frequency use; right amount of sleep vs too little sleep), and TIB was calculated from bed and wake times for the previous 24 hours. Results High-frequency social media interactions using E/IM during the hour before bed were significantly associated with perceived insufficient sleep (odds ratio [confidence interval]: 2.68 [1.39-5.17]) but not with reduced TIB (−19.07 [−40.02 to 1.89]). Conclusions High-frequency social media interactions using E/IM in the hour before bed are a potentially modifiable risk factor for insufficient sleep in female students. Strategies to reduce nighttime usage may improve sleep in children and adolescents.