Association between Intensity of Information and Communication Technology usage and Quality of Sleep Among School-aged children

Abstract

This thesis describes the association between the intensity of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage and the quality of sleep among school-aged children. The increase in usage of ICT in the recent years has been discussed as a potential contributor to certain health and behavioral challenges in previous literature. A cross- sectional study was conducted in five school in a large city in Finland with 74 subjects (age  10 to 14), involving questionnaires, diary, and ambulatory recording of heart rate variability (Holter monitor). The sleep quality of participants in the two categories of ICT usage (high and low) was obtained and analyzed. The study showed a difference in sleep quality between high and low ICT user, when analyzed with the standard deviation of all normal sinus R-R internal (SDNN) measure of heart rate variability. However, analysis with root mean square of successive normal sinus R-R interval difference (RMSSD was insignificant. The results suggest that, low ICT users seem to have a higher parasympathetic dominance during sleep. Thus, indicating a more restorative and better quality of sleep. It would be useful to investigate further the adverse effects of intensive use of information and communication technology especially among school-aged children and implement measures to reduce associated risks. Asiasanat:ICT, heart rate variability, sleep quality, children