Late-night texting ‘harms teenagers’ sleep quality and academic performance’

A new study from the US has established a link between night-time texting habits and a reduction in sleep quality and academic performance.

The Rutgers University research, published in the Journal of Child Neurology, evaluated 1,537 survey responses from three US schools to contrast grades, sexes, messaging duration and whether the texting occurred when the lights were still on.

It was shown that students who turned off their devices or who messaged for less than 30 minutes after lights out performed significantly better in school, while those who texted longer in the dark slept fewer hours and were sleepier during the day.

This was attributed in large part to the blue light emitted from smartphones and tablets, the effect of which is intensified when viewed in a dark room.

This form of short-wavelength light has a strong impact on daytime tiredness symptoms as it delays melatonin release, even when seen through closed eyelids, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

Study author Xue Ming, professor of neuroscience and neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said: "Sleep is not a luxury; it's a biological necessity. Adolescents are not receiving the optimal amount of sleep; they should be getting eight-and-a-half hours a night."