Excessive gadget use disrupts sleep, leading to insomnia, nightmares, and sleep paralysis. Researchers in China, led by Qian-Wen Lin, provide a warning about this phenomenon. The authors studied 19,229 adolescents and identified four patterns of gadget use:
1. Minimal use
2. Active use on weekends
3. Active use on weekends and before bed
4. Excessive use
Older adolescents were more likely to gravitate toward the fourth pattern. The researchers cited that the closer a person is to this pattern, the more sleep paralysis and nightmares they experience—even if they do not suffer from sleep deprivation or sad thoughts. However, they also noted that individuals in the latter three groups typically sleep less than those in the first group.
The scientists hypothesized that excessive gadget use leads to cortical activation, which occurs during sleep paralysis. However, further studies are needed to confirm this connection.
Have you noticed whether your gadget use affects your phase states (e.g., lucid dreams, sleep paralysis, and false awakenings)?
The article was published in March 2025 in the European Journal of Pediatrics.
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