This everyday device has advantages, but also disadvantages, such as impaired sleep. A recent British study cited smartphone addiction as having a predominant role in poor sleep quality. In addition, fighting against sleep when used at night increases the risk of becoming addicted.
In 2019, several works had tarnished the reputation of the smartphone, this object now being an integral part of our daily lives. In the first of these studies, the researchers indicated that the fact of being entertained only by means of the smartphone and social networks could be addictive . This induces a dependency on dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of pleasure. The second study established a link between excessive smartphone use and mental health problems in students.
In 2018, researchers had already explained why blue light disturbs sleep. In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry on March 2, 2021, researchers from King's College London (UK) also studied the important role of the smartphone in the poor quality of sleep of users.
As part of their work, British researchers conducted a survey of a thousand students . They had to answer a questionnaire on their daily use of the smartphone. These same questionnaires also addressed the sleep habits of the respondents as well as the time at which they turn off their smartphone. Analyzing the results, the scientists made the following discovery:40% of students who participated in the study show signs of addiction. Another worrying figure:69% of participants showing signs of addiction also spoke of sleep problems. Remember that the blue light from screens (and their brightness) can keep us awake despite the presence of signs of fatigue.
According to the authors of the study, addiction to this type of device is very common, especially in young adults. However, these works did not measure the time of exposure to screens. They mainly focused on the consequences on daily life and mainly on sleep. The researchers also estimated that people who persist in using their smartphone late at night while resisting the call to sleep are three times more likely to become addicted to their device.
Finally, remember that blue light when used at night prevents the secretion of melatonin , essential for sleep. Consequently, it is rather inadvisable to use the screens after 9 p.m., whether it is a smartphone, tablet or television.
