SCREEN TIME AND SLEEP DISTURBANCES IN ADOLESCENTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Sleep disturbances are common among adolescents and represent an important public health concern due to their effects on physical health, emotional regulation, cognitive functioning, and daytime performance. At the same time, screen-based behaviors have become a central component of adolescent life, raising concerns about their potential influence on sleep. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the association between screen time and sleep disturbances among adolescents, with particular emphasis on sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, bedtime, and insomnia-related outcomes. A targeted literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar in April and May 2026, and 15 key sources were included. The reviewed evidence consistently indicates that higher screen exposure is associated with poorer sleep outcomes. Large population-based studies and systematic reviews link increased screen time with shorter sleep duration, poorer subjective sleep quality, prolonged sleep onset latency, later bedtimes, and greater sleep deficiency. Several studies suggest graded associations, with higher levels of exposure generally corresponding to more adverse sleep outcomes. However, screen time should not be interpreted only as total duration. Timing of use, type of screen activity, sex, age, and environmental context may influence the strength and character of the association. Proposed mechanisms include circadian disruption, melatonin suppression, displacement of sleep time, and cognitive or emotional arousal. Current evidence supports screen exposure as a relevant behavioral factor in adolescent sleep health, although causal inference remains limited because much of the available evidence is observational and based on self-reported measures.