Smartphone Usage Patterns and Sleep Behavior in Demographic Groups: Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Overview

Although previous studies have examined the relationship between smartphone usage and sleep disorders, research on demographic differences in smartphone usage and nocturnal smartphone inactivity patterns remains limited.

This study introduces the concept of "nocturnal smartphone inactivity duration" as a proxy indicator to address the limitation of lacking direct sleep data and to further investigate the association between smartphone usage patterns and sleep characteristics.

Objective

The objective was to investigate demographic differences and relationships between daily smartphone usage and nocturnal smartphone inactivity patterns.

Methods

• Retrospective analysis of data collected from the Murmuras app from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
• 1074 participants categorized by gender, age, highest degree, employment status, and smartphone usage purpose.
• Daily smartphone usage duration and duration of nocturnal smartphone inactivity calculated per participant.
• Statistical tests included normality and homogeneity of variance analyses, Kruskal–Wallis tests for group differences, and correlation/regression analyses for associations between usage and inactivity.

Findings

• Smartphones were predominantly used for social contact (average 1.52 h/day) and recreational activities (1.08 h/day), particularly through Facebook and YouTube.
• Frequent use of smartphones, especially for social media and entertainment, increased at night.
• Females used phones more frequently, especially for shopping and social interaction, while males used them more at nighttime (P<.001).
• Younger individuals and non-full-time employees used smartphones more for gaming and chatting (P<.01).
• Higher education correlated with less smartphone use (P<.001).
• Work-related usage decreased after work hours (P<.05).
• Most demographic groups showed no significant correlation between usage duration and nighttime inactivity, but some subgroups did show positive or negative correlations.

Conclusion

This study underscores a significant association between demographic factors and smartphone usage patterns, including nocturnal inactivity. Females, young people, those with lower education, and the unemployed demonstrated higher use, especially at night, often engaging with social and recreational apps—behaviors associated with sleep disruption.

These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting excessive nighttime smartphone use to mitigate its potential adverse effects on sleep. There is a clear connection between behavioral exposure to electromagnetic fields from smartphone use and risks to sleep health.