College Students Report Insomnia Caused by Loneliness, Not Screen Time
College students who feel lonely are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia as their less lonely peers.
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A study by the Oregon State University revealed that loneliness is the main reason behind insomnia in college students rather than screen time. While people usually blame their devices for sleep problems, researchers found a much stronger link between feelings of isolation and sleep problems.
Lead researcher John Richmond Sy stated that loneliness itself was a consistent predictor of insomnia, even when screen time was accounted for.
According to OPB, this is over students in the college set-up particularly being at risk for experiencing loneliness due to life stage and academic pressures. Such feelings are more likely to result in rumination and stress, which bring about more difficulty to both entering and remaining asleep.
Other research previously conducted showed that sleep deprivation affects students' health, academic performance, and even safety that car accidents have even become a risk associated with sleep-deprived students, making the explanation of insomnia in this group more critical.
Read more: College Students Struggle With Insomnia Due to Loneliness and Excessive Screen Time, Study Finds
The surveys were taken from more than 1,000 Oregon State University and Chaminade University of Honolulu students regarding sleep habits, loneliness levels, and usage of screens during bedtime. Around 35% of the students reported high levels of loneliness and 63% of them suffered from insomnia symptoms, almost double the rate of those who reported feeling less lonely.
Does Screen Time Affect College Students?
Surprisingly, screen time affected insomnia less, but among students with low levels of loneliness, excessive use of devices had the effect after reaching 8-10 hours a day. It is clear from the study that screen time can still be the factor that defines sleep health for college students but calls for urgent intervention on loneliness for college students.
HE Professionals reported that colleges can help students sleep better and, therefore, enhance their well-being by creating relationships and eliminating social isolation. The study suggests mental health programs and activities that make the campus feel like home.
