Promoting a Smartphone-Free Bedroom Environment to Enhance Sleep Quality among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the impact of smartphone usage habits on sleep quality among undergraduate students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2023 at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire included three sections: demographic characteristics, smartphone usage habits, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for assessing sleep quality. Descriptive analysis and inferential tests were utilized.

RESULTS

Among 1,153 participants, the average PSQI score of 8.19, indicating poor sleep quality. Nearly three-quarters (73.46%) of participants used smartphones for over six hours daily. Regression analysis revealed three significant predictors of poor sleep: smartphone use in the evening, waking up frequently to check phones, and spending 1-2 hours on a smartphone at bedtime. Smartphone use for two hours or more before bedtime was linked to prolonged sleep latency (31.21%), frequent sleep disturbances (16.67%), increased reliance on sleep medications (4.96%), and notable daytime dysfunction (4.96%). Waking up twice or more to check smartphones had the strongest association with poor sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

High smartphone use is a risk factor for poor sleep quality among university students. Promoting a smartphone-free bedroom environment is suggested as an effective strategy to enhance sleep hygiene and reduce frequent sleep interruptions.