Trends in sleeping difficulties among European adolescents: are these associated with physical inactivity and excessive screen time?

Ghekiere, A., Van Cauwenberg, J., Vandendriessche, A., Inchley, J. , Gaspar de Matos, M., Borraccino, A., Gobina, I., Tynjälä, J., Deforche, B. and De Clercq, B. (2019) Trends in sleeping difficulties among European adolescents: are these associated with physical inactivity and excessive screen time? International Journal of Public Health, 64(4), pp. 487-498. (doi: 10.1007/s00038-018-1188-1) (PMID:30535677)

Abstract

Objectives: We examined changes in sleep-onset difficulties over time and associations with physical activity and screen time behavior among adolescents. Methods: We used data from last four survey waves of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study (2002–2006–2010–2014). Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between regular sleeping difficulties, excessive screen time exposure and being insufficiently physically active (i.e., < 60 min daily) among 33 European and non-European countries. Results: Findings indicate an increase in the prevalence of sleep-onset difficulties and in excessive screen time exposure and a small but significant increase in physical activity levels. Additionally, adolescents exceeding 2-h daily screen time had 20% higher odds of reporting sleep-onset difficulties, while no association was found for physical activity. The strength of the association between screen time and sleep-onset difficulties increased over time, which may reflect a change in type of screen time use (e.g., the increased use of easy accessible screens such as smartphones and tablets). Conclusions: Effective strategies to reduce screen time are key to reverse the detrimental trend in sleep-onset difficulties among adolescents.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The study was funded by the government of Flanders (Grant No. GEO-1GDD2A-WT) and the Research Foundation Flanders (Grant No. 12I1117N).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Inchley, Dr Joanna
• Authors: Ghekiere, A., Van Cauwenberg, J., Vandendriessche, A., Inchley, J., Gaspar de Matos, M., Borraccino, A., Gobina, I., Tynjälä, J., Deforche, B., and De Clercq, B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: International Journal of Public Health
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1661-8556
• ISSN (Online): 1661-8564
• Published Online: 10 December 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+)
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Public Health 64(4): 487-498
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy