Unstructured internet use and sleep deprivation in adolescents: a cross-sectional study of high school students

Objectives: The rapid expansion of digital media use has emerged as a significant factor influencing adolescent sleep health. While much of the existing literature has focused primarily on total screen time, the purpose and structure of internet use may play a more nuanced and potentially critical role in shaping sleep outcomes. This study aims to assess the level of sleep deprivation among high school students and to examine its association with both the patterns and purposes of internet use.

Methods:This cross-sectional study included a total of 68 students from Bahçeşehir Eskişehir Science and Technology High School and Anatolian High School. Sociodemographic data were collected a structured questionnaire, and sleep deprivation levels were assessed using the Sleep Deprivation Scale for Children and Adolescents. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0, with the level of significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results:The mean age of the participants was 15.04 ± 1.18 years, and 60.9% were male. A substantial proportion of students (79.7%) reported using the internet before going to sleep. The mean sleep deprivation score was calculated as 34.4 ± 8.7, indicating a moderate level of sleep deprivation across the sample. Regarding the purposes of internet use, 82.8% of students reported using it for social media, 65.6% for homework, 50% for online gaming, and 59.4% for news or other research-related activities, internet surfing(tik tok, reels etc)

Statistical analyses revealed that students who reported using the internet for news/other research and unspecified purposes /internet surfing (tik tok/reels etc) had significantly higher sleep deprivation scores (p = 0.009 and p = 0.004, respectively). Correlation analyses further demonstrated a positive relationship between overall internet use and sleep deprivation levels. In addition, significant positive associations were observed between sleep deprivation and specific types of internet use (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion:One of the most notable findings of this study is the impact of non-purposeful or unstructured internet use. Students who engaged in internet use without a clear or defined objective tended to spend longer periods online, which was associated with more severe sleep deprivation. This suggests that not only the duration but also the intentionality of digital engagement plays a crucial role in adolescent sleep health.

These findings highlight the importance of shifting the focus from how long adolescents spend online to why they are online. Unstructured and aimless internet use may represent a modifiable behavioral risk factor for sleep deprivation. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving adolescent sleep should not be limited to reducing screen time but should also address the quality and purpose of digital engagement.

In conclusion, this study underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to digital media use in adolescents. Educational programs in schools and guidance from families could help promote more conscious and purposeful internet use habits. Future research with larger samples and longitudinal designs is recommended to further explore these relationships and to establish causal links between patterns of internet use and sleep health outcomes.

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