A new research study has found that teens who become addicted to cell phone usage may be increasing their risk of illness. The illness is related to their inability to sleep properly.
Presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting, the clear message to teens is that excessive cell phone usage brings
Stress and restless nights into their lives.
Dr. Gaby Bader, an associate professor at Sahlgren's Academy in Goteburg, was surprised to find the correlation between cell phone usage and teen sleep disorders. As a part of a variety of other studies investigating the possible connection between technology and teen health, this study is only one of many that will be released.
The research team looked at more than 20 Swedish teen males and females that were healthy and who fell between the ages of 14 and 20. None of the participants were previously diagnosed with sleep problems and practiced normal studying and working schedules.
The teens were separated into two groups based upon their own reports of cell phone usage. The first group placed and or received 5 cell phone calls or text message per day. The second group placed or received 15 or more cell phone calls or text messages per day.
The average number of cell phone calls / text messages reported per day fell between 35 and 40, with some of the teens using their cell phones far more frequently than those numbers to the tune of more than 200 connections each day.
The teens filled out a questionnaire that covered their sleep patterns and a self diagnosis of sorts regarding
Depression, anger and self-esteem issues. The participants also kept a sleep diary for a period of 1 week.
In order to further investigate, researchers performed one overnight sleep analysis on each teen and two cardiac activity tests during the day time hours.
The results of the study found that teens who use their cells phones for 15 or more calls or text messages per day for more likely to exhibit irregular sleeping patterns as compared to those teens who used their cell phones less.
In relation, the teens who used their cell phones most frequently also consumed more caffeinated beverages than the lesser call group which also may contribute to their sleep pattern irregularities.
