Sleep in Young Weekend Users of the Internet

      Sono dos Jovens que Navegam  pela

      Internet nos Finais de Semana

Gema Mesquita1, Simone Ferreira2, Sueli Rossini3, Rubens Reimão3*

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nighttime and  weekend internet use  and  perceived  sleep  in  710  university students  aged   from  17  to  25  years.  Method:  A  descriptive, transversal, field study was conducted.  Sleep perception was measured by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and  computer  use (PC) was assessed  using self-rated questionnaires.  Results: The percentage of poor sleepers  was higher  among  internet users:  36.4%  of PC users  were good  sleepers  (GS) and  63.5%  poor sleepers  (PS) versus 44.0%  GS and 55.9%  PS among  non-PC  users (p = 0.03).  The distribution of sleep disturbance by time of internet access was: 61.8% poor sleep between 17:00-21:00; 64.4% between 19:00 –

22:00; 71.4% between 19:00 – 24:00 and  60.3% among  those accessing between 19:00 - late-night/early morning.  Day-time sleepiness  was  found to  be  a  significant problem  (p = 0.05)  as  was  reduced  sleep duration (p = 0.03),  both of which were associated  with internet access  times at weekends. Conclusion: The study showed  that  sleep  problems  were  frequent  among   public  university students  and  exacerbated   by weekend internet use.

Key words: Sleep, youths, quality of sleep, times, Internet, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness.