Exploring young people's sleep in a digital world

The project will investigate the mutual relationship between technology use and sleep in children and adolescents. The results may form the basis for new recommendations to parents, young people and professionals.

Sleep is essential for the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, yet many young people do not get enough of it. Evening screen use has long been pointed out as a cause of sleep difficulties, leading to general recommendations to avoid digital devices before bedtime. However, the relationship between technology and sleep is more complex than previously thought, and in some cases, technology might even help young people fall asleep.

For younger children, there is almost no experimental research that tests how screens affect sleep.

Studies will be conducted both of how the light from screens affects melatonin, the sleep-regulating hormone, and of how stimulating screen content can interfere with winding down at night. Earlier studies suggest that adolescents may be relatively less sensitive to these effects, while younger children might be more vulnerable.

For teenagers, the project flips the question: could it be that sleep problems lead to increased screen use? During puberty, the natural sleep rhythm shifts, making it more difficult to fall asleep in the evening. Many adolescents may therefore use screens to pass the time or to handle intrusive thoughts while waiting to drift off.

The project tests two hypotheses: that technology is used either to fill the waiting time before sleep or to help regulate negative thoughts. If that is the case, strict screen bans in the evening may be difficult to follow, and, in some cases, may even worsen sleep difficulties.

By combining controlled experiments with daily monitoring in the home environment, the project will provide a more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of how light, content, and timing of screen use affect sleep quality.

The results will guide more tailored recommendations for parents, adolescents, and professionals working with young people, shifting the focus from universal rules toward strategies that promote healthy technology habits at night. In this way, the project may contribute to better sleep and strengthened mental well-being for children and adolescents in an increasingly digital world.