The Effects of Parental Intervention on Sleep Patterns and Electronic Media Exposure in Young Adolescents.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent-focused intervention aimed at the promotion of healthy sleep patterns and controlled exposure to electronic media (EM) in young adolescents. Participants: The sample included 70 dyads of parents (68 mothers and 2 fathers) and adolescents. Intervention and control groups each consisted of 35 young adolescents with a mean age of 10.7 (0.9) years old. Methods: Three waves of data collection included baseline, post-intervention, and 3 month follow-up. In each wave, adolescents reported habitual electronic media exposure and sleep patterns for a week and wore an actigraph for five nights. Parents in the intervention group participated in a six-session interactive workshop, while parents in the control group received equivalent written information by mail. Results: The intervention led to earlier bedtimes (p < 0.001), increased sleep efficiency (p < 0.01), increased sleep duration (p < 0.001) and reduced video games exposure (p < 0.01). Benefits were maintained at the follow-up. Conclusion: Interventions tailored for parents can create lasting positive changes in sleep patterns and EM exposure in young adolescents.

Sleep patterns, electronic media exposure and daytime sleep-related behaviours among Israeli adolescents.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess weekday and weekend sleep patterns and their relationships with electronic media (television and computer) exposure and with daytime sleep-related behaviours, including sleep problem behaviours, sleepiness and fatigue in Israeli adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, which includes 470 8th and 9th grade middle school students (mean age 14 ± 0.8) in the normative school system, was performed. Students completed the modified School Sleep Habits Survey (SSHS), and the modified Electronic Media and Fatigue Questionnaire (EMFQ). RESULTS: Adolescents went to bed at 23:00 and 01:45 hours, and slept <7.5 and nearly 10.0 h on average, during weekdays and weekends respectively. Average electronic media exposure per day was about 3 h for television and 2.5 h for internet. Adolescents with a bedroom television went to bed later, had longer sleep latency and slept less than those without a bedroom television. Increased electronic media exposure and poor daytime sleep-related behaviours predicted later bedtime, longer sleep latency during weekdays and later wake-up time during weekends. CONCLUSION: Poor sleep patterns in Israeli adolescents are related to excessive electronic media habits and daytime sleep-related problems. These findings raise a public health concern regarding lifestyle and functioning in young individuals.