Sleepy? Cut out late-night Internet and TV (Reuters)

[Feed]

Reuters - People who spend more pre-bedtime hours using the Internet or watching television are more likely to report that they don't get enough sleep, even though they sleep almost as long as people who spend fewer pre-bedtime hours in front of a computer or television screen, survey findings show. More... Sleepy? Cut out late-night Internet and TV By Joene Hendry Thu Aug 23, 5:33 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who spend more pre-bedtime hours using the Internet or watching television are more likely to report that they don't get enough sleep, even though they sleep almost as long as people who spend fewer pre-bedtime hours in front of a computer or television screen, survey findings show. "While many people use electronic media, such as the Internet, it should be noted that the longer media use before sleep can trigger (self-perceived) insufficient sleep," lead researcher Dr. Nakamori Suganuma, of Osaka University, Japan, told Reuters Health. He and colleagues obtained data on self-perceived sleep problems and the use of electronic media prior to bedtime from a total of 5,875 Japanese respondents to two separate Internet-based surveys. Their findings are published in the journal Sleep and Biological Rhythms. Nearly half of the respondents associated their lack of sleep with electronic media use before bedtime. Those reporting longer electronic media use were also more likely to report insufficient sleep. Overall, 29 percent of light users (less than 1.5 hours) listed electronic media use as a possible cause of their insufficient sleep. By comparison, 40 percent of medium users (1.5 to 3 hours) and 54 percent of heavy users (more than 3 hours) said the same. However, longer Internet and television use before bedtime did not correlate with less actual sleep. While heavy users averaged about 3 more hours in front of computer or television screens than light users, the heavy users averaged only about 12 minutes less pre-workday sleep time than light users. Notably, Suganuma said, "Internet use affected self-perceived insufficient sleep more than TV watching...not only in younger Internet users but also in middle-aged or aged Internet users." Up to 38 percent of the respondents listed accessing the Internet far into the night as a possible cause for their sleep disturbance, while about 25 percent said watching television far into the night caused their sleep problems. The findings suggest that while heavy computer and television use before bedtime has a small effect on sleep duration, it may have a more significant effect on "sleep demand and sleep quality," Suganuma notes.

[King]

Interesting, I'll try and stay away from internet and TV couple of hours prior heading to bed to test this one. I love to sleep long hours but cannot afford. Also the D/N in UK starts at about 1:30 am my time. I'm hoping to go to bed early and wake up early to watch the second half of the game tomorrow.

[Rajiv]

..then they haven't studied ppl like me who cannot sleep w/o watching TV

[fineleg]

..then they haven't studied ppl like me who cannot sleep w/o watching TV

Me too :haha:

[Aditi]

In addition to my nightly TV & Internet dose, I must read for a bit right before I go to bed. :(

[Rajiv]

..I partly blame ICF, earlier I used to watch TV and eat food. Now its food, TV and scrolling webpages here..its too much to follow

[Gaurav]

I am not buying it.

[Guest dada_rocks]

iske liye unhen research karni pari...:hysterical: hamse poochh lete dhakkan log kha mokha is tarah ke research pe paisa barbad karte hain..

[Zap_Brannigan]

So what are we supposed to do before goin to sleep?? Not many of us can put up with a girl on a daily basis.....

[sgusa]

So what are we supposed to do before goin to sleep?? Not many of us can put up with a girl on a daily basis.....

Diff girl on diff nights maybe ? :)

[fineleg]

Barnes and Noble or Borders may help :-)

[sgusa]

Barnes and Noble or Borders may help :-)

:) :D :D

[fineleg]

:) :D :D

I meant to read a book and go to sleep. No durty thoughts, LOL :regular_smile:

[Zap_Brannigan]

Barnes and Noble or Borders may help :-)

What?They sell Playboy these days?

[fineleg]

What?They sell Playboy these days?

These days...dont they always carry it in those shrink wrapped covers? Though I meant you can go get Jacob Millman in bookstore :P Sorry, Bheembhai...apologize...

[sgusa]

What?They sell Playboy these days?

Dont you have planets to destroy ? :D Fineleg is referring to a very different episode discussed in our common past.

[Gambit]

Can't remember the last time I watched TV.

[The Outsider]

^ Ditto.