Internet addiction and sleep quality among adolescents in a peri-urban setting in Nepal: A cross-sectional school-based survey

Abstract

Background Excessive use of the internet among adolescents often led to later bedtimes and poor sleep quality. This study assessed the relationship between internet addiction and sleep quality among adolescents in a peri-urban setting in Nepal. Method This cross-sectional study employed a questionnaire survey among 390 adolescent students recruited from two schools in Kirtipur Municipality in Nepal. The Internet Addiction Test and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess internet addiction and poor sleep quality respectively. The association between internet addiction and sleep quality was analysed by logistic regression. Results One-fifth (21.5%) of the participants were identified with borderline internet addiction and 13.3% with possible internet addiction. Poor sleep quality was found among 31% of the participants. Internet addiction was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (OR = 1.85, p = 0.022 for borderline, and OR = 3.98, p = <0.001 for possible internet addiction compared to no internet addiction). Conclusion Adolescents with internet addiction were more vulnerable to suffer from poor sleep quality. It is recommended that municipalities and schools should aware the adolescent students on the adverse effects of excessive internet use including poor sleep quality. The findings have implications for adolescents, parents, school authorities and researchers.

Relationship of quality of sleep with cognitive performance and emotional maturity among adolescents

“…26 and Mercer PW et al (1998), reported that 63% of the adolescents had poor sleep quality. 25 These findings were discordant with the previous research because the present study data were collected right after the lockdown period. They had sufficient leisure time at home.…”

“…This finding was a mismatch with the research conducted by Karia SB et al (2021), showed that 40% of science students and 33% of commerce students experienced no clinically significant insomnia, respectively. 24 Another survey conducted by Karki K et al (2021) highlighted that poor sleep quality was found among 31% . 25 A dissimilar findings were reported by An J et al(2014), that 26.7% of the adolescents had poor quality of sleep .…”

“…24 Another survey conducted by Karki K et al (2021) highlighted that poor sleep quality was found among 31% . 25 A dissimilar findings were reported by An J et al(2014), that 26.7% of the adolescents had poor quality of sleep . 26 and Mercer PW et al (1998), reported that 63% of the adolescents had poor sleep quality.…”

Sleep quality and its correlates among undergraduate medical students in Nepal: A cross-sectional study

“…This study revealed the prevalence of poor sleep quality among undergraduate medical students (38.2%), which is higher than the study reported among undergraduate non-medical PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH students (35.4%) [19] and school level students (31%) in Nepal [27]. A similar study from a private medical college of Nepal showed a higher proportion of poor sleep quality (44.3%) than our study [17].…”

The association of smartphone screen time with sleep problems among adolescents and young adults: cross-sectional findings from India

“…Problematic use of smartphones has been attributed to time displacement, such as smartphone use that transcends to delay in bedtime due to surfing the content of the media, causing arousal and interfering with the ability to fall asleep. Additionally, it has a biological impact through light emission of the device in the blue spectrum resulting in melatonin suppression which further leads to difficulty in sleep initiation and non-restorative sleep [ 6 – 8 , 16 , 17 , 19 ]. With the advancement of technology and the use of smartphones, the sleep problem has become a growing concern.…”