Add yet another item to the list of electronic gadgets that should be prohibited in the teenager’s room…cell phones! In a study by researchers at the JFK Sleep Center in Edison, New Jersey presented this month at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, 40 teenagers were questioned on their use of electronic gadgets. The results showed that 77% of the teens were having difficulty falling asleep…and for good reason. The average number of texts or emails sent after lights out was 33.5 and the messages were being sent from 10 minutes to 4 hours after bedtime.
The study showed that the boys tended to spend more time surfing the web or playing video games, while the girls were more likely to call and send text messages. Both boys and girls reported being awakened by an email or text message an average of one time per night. The study suggested that using electronic devices after bedtime could be linked to anxiety, depression and ADHD (See our previous article on Sleep Requirements for Adolescents). Because cell phones are being used more and more by younger children, this is an important consideration to keep in mind. With web access now a common feature of cell phone accounts parents should maintain strict control over cell phone use in children and teens.