Screen time and insomnia among college students: the moderating effect of loneliness

Abstract

Objective: Insomnia is detrimental to college student health. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between two risk factors of insomnia—screen time use and loneliness—in college students. Participants: Respondents were 1,001 (M age = 19.9 [SD = 2.3]) college undergraduates. Methods: Self-reported demographic information, daily screen time (social, nonsocial, or productivity), loneliness, and insomnia were collected. Analyses examined the interaction of screen time and loneliness on insomnia. Results: Insomnia significantly correlated with loneliness and total, social, and nonsocial screen time. Less lonely students had an increase in insomnia symptoms with increased total and social screen time. However, lonelier students had greater insomnia symptoms than less lonely students, regardless of screen time. Greater than 8 h of total screen time per day elevated the risk for insomnia. Conclusion: Screen time was associated with insomnia symptoms; however, loneliness better predicted insomnia among college students.