How was engaged gaming linked to sleep in Norwegian teens?

Details

Research on gaming and sleep has mostly focused on addictive gaming, leaving less known about sleep in the context of nonproblematic engaged gaming. This study examined whether addicted, problem, and engaged gaming behaviors were associated with sleep duration, social jetlag, and difficulties falling asleep.

The sample included 3,228 Norwegian adolescents aged 13 and 16 who participated in the 2018 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey. Participants were assigned to addicted, problem, engaged, or normal/non-gaming groups according to the GAS-7 criteria they fulfilled. Researchers examined associations between gaming behavior and sleep variables using robust generalized linear mixed models with a random intercept for class ID.

Addicted gaming behavior was unfavorably associated with all sleep parameters. Findings for engaged and problem gaming were somewhat mixed. Compared with the normal/non-gaming group, engaged gamers slept less on weekends, slept less on weekdays if they were 16, and experienced greater social jetlag. Problem gamers experienced greater social jetlag and had higher odds of difficulties falling asleep.

Overall, the results suggest that all types of gaming behaviors might harm sleep health, but to a greater extent among addicted gamers. The study examined associations and does not establish that gaming caused the sleep differences.