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Evening screen time causes sleep problems in children and adolescents.
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CONTESTED PARTIAL
Recorded sources
8 sources for · 2 against
Is it true that evening screen time causes sleep problems in children and adolescents?
Partly. Several reviews and studies report associations between screen time, including evening use, and poorer sleep in children and adolescents, but most cover only specific age groups or rely on cross-sectional designs. One study of toddlers and preschoolers found longer screen time was not associated with sleep problems, and a study of medical students found evening device use produced only non-significant differences.
Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 8 sources for, 2 against · Last checked
Evidence for · 8
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Kumar, V., Sanjeev, K., & Kumar, S. (2023). Screen Time and Problem Behaviours in Children: Exploring the Mediating Role of Sleep Duration. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11266257
Evidence against · 2
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Edita, B., Roma, J., Ruta, P., & Lina, L. (2022). The Role of Emotional Reactivity in a Relation between Sleep Problems and the Use of Screen-Based Media among Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers. eric.ed.gov. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2021.1885392
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More for · 7
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Zhou, S., Ding, W., Xiao, B., & Li, Y. (2024). Screen Time and Behavioural Problems among Preschool Children: Unveiling the Mediating Effect of Sleep Quality. eric.ed.gov. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2024.2393413
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Hartley, S., Royant-Parola, S., Zayoud, A., Gremy, I., & Matulonga, B. (2022). Do both timing and duration of screen use affect sleep patterns in adolescents?. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276226
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Hökby, S., Alvarsson, J., Westerlund, J., Carli, V., & Hadlaczky, G. (2025). Adolescents’ screen time displaces multiple sleep pathways and elevates depressive symptoms over twelve months. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004262
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SA, D., N, E., L, B. C., & M, C. (2026). Evening Light-Emitting Diode Screen Exposure, Melanopsin-Mediated Circadian Disruption, and Optical Filtration for Sleep Hygiene: A Narrative Review in the Indian Context.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.113484
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Brand, S., Lemola, S., Mikoteit, T., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., Kalak, N., Bahmani, D. S., Pühse, U., Ludyga, S., & Gerber, M. (2019). [Sleep and Psychological Functioning of Children and Adolescents - a Narrative Review].. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.13109/prkk.2019.68.2.128
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Janssen, X., Martin, A., Hughes, A. R., Hill, C. M., Kotronoulas, G., & Hesketh, K. R. (2020). Associations of screen time, sedentary time and physical activity with sleep in under 5s: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101226
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Youth screen media habits and sleep: sleep-friendly screen-behavior recommendations for clinicians, educators, and parents - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.014
More against · 1
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Screen Time Duration and Its Association with Sleep Disorders in Medical Students. (2026). hal.science. https://hal.science/hal-05647172v1
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