Recent research has uncovered a crucial link between insomnia, loneliness, and screen time among college students, signaling an urgent need for improved mental health support within this demographic.
A Growing Concern
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has highlighted a rising epidemic of loneliness that is particularly affecting college students, a phenomenon that could disrupt their sleep patterns and overall well-being.
A collaborative study by researchers from Oregon State University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Harvard Medical School delves into how loneliness and screen time uniquely contribute to insomnia among college students.
It also looks at how these variables interact with varying levels of loneliness.
Published in the Journal of American College Health in November, the study finds that both factors are strong predictors of insomnia, with loneliness being a particularly significant influence.
Prevalence of Insomnia Among Students
The issue of insomnia is alarmingly prevalent among college students—18.5% are affected compared to just 7.4% in the general population.
Earlier research pointed to various reasons for these sleep struggles, including poor sleep hygiene, caffeine intake, substance abuse, and extensive screen time.
Moreover, insomnia is linked to several mental health issues, including anxiety, stress, mood disorders, and overall reduced quality of life.
College life can amplify feelings of loneliness as students face new social and emotional challenges, leading to a disruption in longtime friendships.
Both insomnia and loneliness can lead to serious mental health concerns, creating a vicious cycle that exacerbates sleep difficulties.
The study involved a diverse group of 1,001 college students, aged 18 to 29, recruited from two institutions in the Pacific Northwest and the Pacific Islands, with data collection spanning from April 2021 to September 2022.
Participants estimated their daily screen time over the past two weeks, which researchers categorized into three types: social (like texting and social networking), nonsocial (such as media streaming and gaming), and productivity (academic work).
Loneliness was measured using the 20-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, while insomnia severity was evaluated with the seven-item Insomnia Severity Index.
Key Findings
The analysis showed that these students averaged a staggering 10.2 hours of screen time daily.
Alarmingly, about 40% exhibited clinically significant insomnia symptoms, while around 35% reported feelings of loneliness beyond the normal range.
As confirmed by previous studies, a strong correlation exists between insomnia and loneliness.
Students who reported higher loneliness levels were almost twice as likely to suffer from significant insomnia compared to their less lonely counterparts.
Furthermore, stress and depression were identified as additional factors impacting sleep.
The findings also pointed to a clear relationship between total screen time and insomnia severity.
Among those who spent over 10 hours a day on screens, more than 40% showed signs of insomnia.
Interestingly, the results indicated that nonsocial screen time was associated with heightened feelings of loneliness, while social media use appeared to reduce these feelings.
This highlights the paradox of social media: students can engage socially yet still succumb to passive consumption, which may foster loneliness.
For those experiencing less loneliness, high screen time seemed to correlate more directly with increased insomnia, suggesting that excessive screen use can worsen sleep quality for less lonely individuals.
The researchers recommend that college students limit their screen time to no more than eight to ten hours per day as a strategy to alleviate insomnia.
However, since loneliness proved to be a more potent predictor of sleep disturbances, addressing emotional and psychological concerns may be vital even before tackling screen habits.
Ultimately, the report urges college administrators to raise awareness about the risks associated with excessive screen time.
They should also promote initiatives aimed at enhancing social connections among students, fostering a more supportive and engaged campus environment.
Source: Insidehighered