Effect of Smartphone Use on Sleep in Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Summary

Smartphone use at night significantly predicted poorer sleep quality, later bedtimes, and later rise times in undergraduate medical students, with nearly half (48.3%) reporting poor sleep quality. Lighting and device-use guidelines targeting evening screen exposure could help reduce circadian disruption and improve sleep outcomes in college-aged populations.

Key Findings

48.3% of undergraduate medical students had poor sleep quality (PSQI ≥ 5); average PSQI score was 5.03 ± 0.86.
Smartphone use significantly predicted PSQI score (β = 0.142, p = 0.040, R² = 0.027), perceived screen time (β = 0.113, p = 0.043), bedtime (β = 0.106, p = 0.042), and rise time (β = 0.174, p = 0.015).
Five of seven PSQI components were significantly worse in poor sleepers vs. good sleepers: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction (all p < 0.001); sleep efficiency and sleep medication use did not differ significantly.

Categories

Sleep & Circadian Health: Investigates how smartphone screen time disrupts sleep quality, circadian timing (bedtime/rise time), and sleep parameters in young adults.

Student Learning: Study population is undergraduate medical students aged 17–25, with findings relevant to sleep health policies in educational settings.