Late night texting affects sleep patterns (US)

­An American organization that promotes healthy amounts of night sleep has claimed that the use of gadgets an hour before sleep is affecting the sleeping habits of people. It claims that a significant number of Americans aren’t getting the sleep they need and are searching for ways to cope.

Americans report very active technology usage in the hour before trying to sleep.  Almost everyone surveyed, 95% use some type of electronics like a television, computer, video game or a cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed. However, baby boomers (46-64 year olds), generation X’ers (30-45 year olds), generation Y’ers (19-29 year olds) and generation Z’ers (13-18 year olds) report very different technology preferences from each other.

About two-thirds of baby boomers (67%) and generation X’ers (63%) and half of generation Z’ers (50%) and generation Y’ers (49%) watch television every night or almost every night within the hour before going to sleep.

Artificial light exposure between dusk and the time people go to bed at night suppresses release of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin which enhances alertness and shifts circadian rhythms to a later hour – making it more difficult to fall asleep. This study reveals that light-emitting screens are in heavy use within the pivotal hour before sleep. Invasion of such alarming technologies into the bedroom may contribute to the high proportion of respondents who reported that they routinely get less sleep than they need.

Computer or laptop use is also common. Roughly 61% say that they use their laptops or computers at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed. More than half of generation Z’ers (55%) and slightly less of generation Y’ers (47%) say they surf the Internet every night or almost every night within the hour before sleep.

Cell phone use, specifically texting and talking on the phone, shows a significant age gap. More than half of generation Z’ers (56%) and nearly half of generation Y’ers (42%) say they send, read or receive text messages every night or almost every night in the hour before bed as compared to 15% of generation X’ers and 5% of baby boomers.

About one in ten of generation Z’ers (9%) say that they are awakened after they go to bed every night or almost every night by a phone call, text message or email. About one in five of generation Y’ers (20%) and generation Z’ers (18%) say this happens at least a few nights a week.

Unfortunately,cell phones and computers, which make lives more productive and enjoyable, may also be abused to the point that they contribute to getting less sleep at night leaving millions of Americans functioning poorly the next day.

About three quarters (74%) of those over 30 said that sleepiness affects their work.