College Students Struggle With Insomnia Due to Loneliness and Excessive Screen Time, Study Finds

Woman in Red T-shirt Looking at Her Laptop

In November, professors raised their concerns that US college students are struggling to read longer literature due to their shorter attention span, which was blamed on technology. This time, an alarming study found that it's not just screens that affect college students.

A recent Oregon State University study has found that loneliness is more impactful on college students' sleep than excessive screen time. Also known as disrupted restorative sleep, insomnia is an increasingly common problem among young adults.

As shared by Medical News, the researchers found that 8–10 hours of daily screen time was associated with an increased risk of insomnia, but loneliness was a much stronger predictor of poor sleep. Thus, emotional well-being needs to be addressed along with the habits of screen time.

More than 1,000 undergraduates showed that 35% of students felt isolated. Those students were at twice the risk of reporting more severe insomnia compared to their peers with lower loneliness levels. Screen time does contribute to insomnia but plays a smaller role than the stress and overthinking often accompanying loneliness. The conclusion is that strengthening social relationships might reduce sleep disturbances for students.

Impact of Loneliness on College Students

Loneliness has deeper effects on health than most people realize. It is often associated with increased vulnerability to the effects of stress and proneness to dwelling on unwelcome thoughts, which makes it difficult to sleep well. Experts have likened the health danger of loneliness to smoking, claiming that it increases the risk of depression and early death. Addressing loneliness may improve overall wellness and reduce the epidemic levels of insomnia among college students.

Insomnia affects more than sleep. It increases stress, anxiety, and mood issues, lowering academic performance. Isolation is likely to be worse in college students who are not in close friendships or relationships. Researchers from earlier University Herald reports say that loneliness should be prioritized as a critical factor in helping students with sleep problems, rather than focusing on merely reducing screen time.

This study recommends creating supportive environments for the students, where universities can play a big role by developing connections through social programs and counseling. The limited screen time of 8-10 hours daily may help students improve their sleep further.