Smartphone Overuse and Sleep Disturbance Among Young Adults in Pakistan

Abstract

The smartphones have become a matter of life and death to young adults as they provide them with the ability to access information, be constantly connected and entertained. Nonetheless, there is a correlation between the overuse of smart phones and negative health consequences, especially sleep disturbances, which may lead to negative physical, cognitive, and mental health. The research question addressed in the study is the connection between excessive use of smartphones and sleep quality among the Pakistani young adults. A cross-sectional survey was used to gather information on 200 students of the university (aged between 18 and 30 years) in urban higher education institutions. The research assessed the patterns of smartphone use, the amount of time spent on the phone before sleep, and the self-reported sleeping problems. The results show that the lengthy use of smartphones, particularly at nighttime, is strongly connected with the delay in sleep onset, the shortening of sleep duration, and sleep fragmentation. The paper has identified apprehension campaigns and behavioral changes to encourage more healthy digital practices and sleep hygiene amongst youth adults.