Association between Media Use and Bedtime Delays in Young Children: An Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Midori Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Mezawa, Kenichi Sakurai and Chisato Mori
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Midori Yamamoto: Department of Sustainable Health Science, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Hidetoshi Mezawa: Medical Support Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, National Center for Child Health and Development, 10-1, Okura 2-chome, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
Kenichi Sakurai: Department of Nutrition and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
Chisato Mori: Department of Sustainable Health Science, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Excessive screen media use has been reported to cause shorter sleep; however, the types of media environments that affect early childhood sleep are less known. This study examined the association of multiple media use, screen time for each device, and the purpose of smartphone and tablet use with delayed bedtime among 4–8-year-olds. Participants were recruited from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a nationwide birth cohort study. Mothers of 1837 children reported screen media use and bedtime in a questionnaire. The association between delayed bedtimes (after 22:00 h) and media device use (smartphones, tablets, portable and console games, and TV/DVDs) was examined by logistic regression analysis. Children who used three or more devices besides TV/DVDs were more likely to have delayed bedtimes. Delayed bedtimes were associated with smartphone use, even with a 0.1–1 h/day screen time, and with prolonged screen time for tablets, portable games, and console games, but not for TV/DVDs. Gaming on smartphones and tablets was also associated with delayed bedtime. To ensure adequate sleep for young children, families must develop feasible measures to discourage children’s use of multiple devices and prolonged device use, especially for games, and a social environment that supports such measures.

Keywords: delayed bedtime; screen media; screen time; multi-device; young children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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