Tempo de ecrã, qualidade do sono e atenção matinal em adolescentes dos 12 aos 18 anos

Abstract

Theoretical Background The excessive use of devices (screen time), especially at night, has been a cause for concern and research interest in terms of its impact, particularly on attention. Considering that young people's attentional networks are still in full development, this cognitive capacity may be more susceptible to being modified by environmental factors such as the use of devices. Allied to this factor, sleep also seems to be affected by this use and is an important component in the healthy development of adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyse screen time before bed, sleep quality and attention in the morning in Portuguese adolescents aged between 12 and 18. Method The sample was selected for convenience and consisted of 87 adolescents with typical development, with an average age of 15.12 (SD= 2.08), with years of schooling between seventh and twelfth grade, of which 51 (58.6%) were female and 36 male (41.4%). Young people's attention was assessed using the D2, screen time using the Screen Time Questionnaire administered to themselves and their parents. Sleep was assessed using the PSQI-PT, the rMEQ and the CASQ. Depending on the hypotheses put forward, correlational analyses and tests to compare performance averages were carried out. Results Excessive daily and pre-sleep use was found among 32 young people in a sample group (called the high-risk group). A relationship was found between smartphone use at the weekend, the afternoon chronotype and poor sleep quality. Statistically significant differences were also found between the high-risk and low-risk groups in the attention test. A significant relationship was also found between age groups and the D2 attention test. Conclusion Excessive screen time, especially before going to sleep, can interfere with the quality of sleep and attention of young people between the ages of 12 and 18. Contributing to a better understanding of the effects of excessive screen time, it is considered important to raise awareness among young people in order to adopt strategies for the responsible use of devices before bedtime.

Date of Award	22 Dec 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Joana Rodrigues Rato (Supervisor)