691 – Internet Addiction and Sleep Disturbance Symptoms among Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction:

Sleep quality is a relevant dimension with regards to sleep-wake functioning, and poor sleep quality has been found to be associated with poor academic achievement and health.

Objectives:

Internet use has been identified as having a detrimental effect on sleep patterns. Studies, however, on the relationship between Internet overuse and physical health or sleep problems have been rarely performed (5,6).

Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate Internet addiction among adolescents and to examine the correlation between problematic Internet use and sleep disturbance symptoms.

Methods:

The study was conducted among 1956 students, aged between 14 and 18 years. Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a sociodemographic query form were used in the collection of data.

Results:

The students with Internet addiction were more likely to have difficulty in falling asleep (p< 0.001) and night awakenings (p< 0.01). Problematic Internet users and Internet addicts were found to sleep significantly less than avarage Internet users (7.1±1.5 hr/d, 7.0±1.2 hr/d, 7.76±1.5, respectively; p< 0.05). A significant positive correlation between daily sleep duration and IAT (r = -0.132; p < 0.01) and weekly Internet use (r = -0.085; p < 0.01) was found. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative and independent association of IAT with daily sleep duration (r = 0.235; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

These results indicate an association between the Internet addiction and impaired sleep. Further studies are needed to describe the causality of this association.