Dependence on the use of technologies and daytime sleepiness in adolescent students

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Over the past 50 years, there has been a decline in average sleep duration and quality, with adverse consequences for overall health. Growing evidence from countries around the world shows the negative impact of using internet access technologies on sleep due to the short wavelength enriched light emitted by these electronic devices. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the exposure to modern technologies/internet and its relationship with the state of daytime sleepiness in teenage high school students. METHODS: a survey was conducted in six public schools located in the northeast of Brazil. The sample consisted of 1,130 students (mean age 16.6 years ± 1.1). The data collection instrument used was an objective criterion. The characteristic analytical study and quantitative interpretation. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation. For association analyses, the chi-square test or Student's t-test was used. It was considered significant p<0.05. RESULTS: We found that 7% and 31.6% of the participants reported a state of sleepiness during and after classes, respectively. 59.3% report using the internet excessively, 39.9% have a feeling of dependence, 32.6% report sleep deprivation due to excessive internet use, and 26.7% are unsuccessful in trying to reduce the use of cell phones. CONCLUSION: The relationships between the variables in this study will allow us, the younger students use internet access equipment, the more they are exposed to the risk of sleep impairment.