Teens who use mobiles after 'lights out' may struggle with sleep, depression

Bright mobile phone screens can disrupt sleep which in turn may contribute to mood disorders such as depression.  Dr. Susarla

Teens who use mobiles after 'lights out' may struggle with sleep, depression

Published in the October issue of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology , researchers found a link between teens who used mobile phones after they went to bed and poor mental health and suicidal thoughts compared to those who did not use their phones at this time of night. The researchers controlled for other factors, including alcohol and drug usage. In the study, researchers investigated nearly 18,000 children in junior high and high schools in Japan, with subjects answering questions about their mental health, in addition to sleep and mobile phone habits. The study follows prior research that finds poor sleep is associated with mental problems in teens. For example, a study published last year in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found teens who had difficulty sleeping were at an increased risk for suicidal thoughts. Additionally, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center in the US found that looking at the backlit screen of certain electronic devices can suppress melatonin, a hormone produced during sleep, and cause sleeplessness. This study was published recently in the journal Applied Ergonomics.

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