THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCREEN TIME AND SLEEP QUALITY AMONG UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES IN ACHIEVERS UNIVERSITY, OWO, ONDO
Abstract
The widespread use of digital devices among university students has increased significantly, often
resulting in prolonged screen exposure. This has raised growing concerns about the impact of
excessive screen time on sleep quality, especially in young adults who are highly susceptible to
digital distractions and irregular sleep patterns. This study is aimed to examine the relationship
between screen time and sleep quality among university undergraduates. A descriptive crosssectional study was conducted among 100 undergraduates using a structured questionnaire
comprising socio-demographic data, screen time behaviors, and sleep quality assessment via the
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive
statistics summarized screen time patterns and sleep quality, while chi-square and binary logistic
regression tests were used to explore associations and predictive relationships. Statistical
significance was set at p ≤ 0.07. The mean age of respondents was 22.9 ± 2.97 years; 56.0% were
female. The average total screen time was 5.33 ± 2.15 hours daily. Social media screen time (mean
= 3.34 ± 1.27 hours) exceeded academic screen time (mean = 2.71 ± 1.21 hours). A total of 76.0%
used devices for entertainment before sleep, and 45.0% always used screens within one hour of
bedtime. Based on PSQI scoring, 62.0% of respondents had poor sleep quality, with a mean global
score of 7.28 ± 2.73. Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between poor sleep and
total screen time (p = 0.005), night-time screen use (p = 0.001), academic screen time (p = 0.013),
and social media use (p = 0.002). Logistic regression identified night-time screen use (OR = 2.35),
total screen time (OR = 1.86), and social media use (OR = 1.96) as significant predictors of poor
sleep quality. Extended screen exposure especially at night and for social purposes was
significantly linked to poor sleep quality among students. Keywords are Screen time, Sleep quality,
University students, Digital behavior, PSQI, Night-time device use
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