Cited by 453Sleep and related disordersImpact of Technology on AdolescentsSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults

Open access
Levenson, Jessica C., Shensa, Ariel, Sidani, Jaime E., Colditz, Jason B., Primack, Brian A.·2016·Preventive Medicine

Abstract

Introduction Many factors contribute to sleep disturbance among young adults. Social media (SM) use is increasing rapidly, and little is known regarding its association with sleep disturbance. Methods In 2014 we assessed a nationally-representative sample of 1788 U.S. young adults ages 19-32. SM volume and frequency were assessed by self-reported minutes per day spent on SM (volume) and visits per week (frequency) using items adapted from the Pew Internet Research Questionnaire. We assessed sleep disturbance using the brief Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Sleep Disturbance measure. Analyses performed in Pittsburgh utilized chi-square tests and ordered logistic regression using sample weights in order to estimate effects for the total U.S. population. Results In models that adjusted for all sociodemographic covariates, participants with higher SM use volume and frequency had significantly greater odds of having sleep disturbance. For example, compared with those in the lowest quartile of SM use per day, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of 1.95 (95% CI = 1.37-2.79) for sleep disturbance. Similarly, compared with those in the lowest quartile of SM use frequency per week, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of 2.92 (95% CI = 1.97-4.32) for sleep disturbance. Associations all demonstrated a significant linear trend. Discussion The strong association between SM use and sleep disturbance has important clinical implications for the health and well-being of young adults. Future work should aim to assess directionality and to better understand the influence of contextual factors associated with SM use.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults ages 19–32, greater self-reported social media use was associated with higher odds of sleep disturbance. The association was stronger for frequency of social media visits than for total daily volume.

Key findings

  • Median social media use was 61 minutes per day (IQR = 30, 135) and 30 visits per week (IQR = 8.5, 56.5).
  • Weighted sleep disturbance distribution was 42.6% low, 28.0% medium, and 29.4% high.
  • In fully adjusted models, compared with the lowest quartile of daily social media volume, the highest quartile had an AOR of 1.95 (95% CI = 1.37–2.79) for higher sleep disturbance.
  • Compared with the lowest quartile of weekly social media frequency, the highest quartile had an AOR of 2.92 (95% CI = 1.97–4.32) for higher sleep disturbance; associations showed a significant linear trend (all P < .001).

Methods

  • Cross-sectional analysis of 1,788 U.S. young adults ages 19–32 from the GfK KnowledgePanel, using data collected in the 18-month follow-up survey from October to November 2014.
  • Social media use was self-reported as average daily minutes (volume) and weekly visits across 11 platforms (frequency); sleep disturbance was assessed with four PROMIS Sleep Disturbance short-form items and grouped into low, medium, and high tertiles.
  • Chi-square tests and ordered logistic regression with survey weights were used, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates; sensitivity analyses used more parsimonious models, no survey weights, and continuous social media variables.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the cross-sectional design prevents determining directionality or causality between social media use and sleep disturbance.
  • The paper states reliance on retrospective self-report of social media use and sleep, without formal sleep studies or ecological momentary assessment, and notes that results cannot be generalized beyond ages 19–32.
  • The paper states that the 4-item PROMIS short form, rather than computerized adaptive testing, may have contributed to non-normal response data and limited sleep disturbance to an ordinal-categorical variable; it also notes that future work should examine a broader set of covariates such as mental health status.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.01.001

Cites

32 of 32 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 21 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The relationship between social media use and sleep disturbance showed a statistically significant linear trend in both unadjusted and adjusted models (all P < .001).

    “Associations all demonstrated a significant linear trend.”
    • Also stated in: § Multivariable Analyses · boosted
      “Post-estimate tests demonstrated linearity of the overall association between each of the independent variables and the dependent variable in both unadjusted and adjusted models (all P < .001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The median daily volume of social media use was 61 minutes (IQR 30, 135; range 0-1447).

    “Median volume was 61 minutes of SM use per day (IQR = 30, 135; range = 0-1447), while median frequency was 30 visits per week (IQR=8.5, 56.5; range=0-385).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
  • Findingown data

    In fully adjusted models, the highest quartile of daily social media use had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.95 (95% CI 1.37-2.79) for greater sleep disturbance compared with the lowest quartile.

    “For example, compared with those in the lowest quartile of SM use per day, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of 1.95 (95% CI = 1.37-2.79) for sleep disturbance.”
    • Also stated in: § Multivariable Analyses · plain
      “For example, compared with those in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of 1.95 (95% CI = 1.37 - 2.79) for having a higher level of sleep disturbance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
  • Findingown data

    The median weekly frequency of social media use was 30 visits (IQR 8.5, 56.5; range 0-385).

    “Median volume was 61 minutes of SM use per day (IQR = 30, 135; range = 0-1447), while median frequency was 30 visits per week (IQR=8.5, 56.5; range=0-385).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
  • Findingown data

    Among U.S. young adults aged 19-32 in a nationally representative sample, greater social media use volume was linked to significantly higher odds of sleep disturbance after adjustment for all sociodemographic covariates.

    “In models that adjusted for all sociodemographic covariates, participants with higher SM use volume and frequency had significantly greater odds of having sleep disturbance.”
    • Also stated in: § Multivariable Analyses · plain
      “In fully-adjusted models (Table 2), participants with higher SM volume had significantly greater odds of having sleep disturbance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
  • May combine two claims. 8
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 13
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The association with sleep disturbance was stronger for social media use frequency than for volume, with an adjusted odds ratio of about 3 versus about 2.

    “It is interesting that associations with sleep disturbance were higher for the frequency variable than for the volume variable. For example, compared to those in the lowest quartile for frequency, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of about 3 for increased sleep disturbance, while for the volume variable the AOR was about 2.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In bivariable analyses, both social media use volume and frequency were significantly related to sleep disturbance, with more use corresponding to greater disturbance.

    “SM volume and frequency were significantly associated with sleep disturbance, with greater level of SM use associated with higher levels of disturbance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the weighted sample, 42.6% had low sleep disturbance, 28.0% had medium sleep disturbance, and 29.4% had high sleep disturbance.

    “Accounting for survey weights, 42.6% of our sample was in the low sleep disturbance group, 28.0% was in the medium disturbance group, and 29.4% was in the high sleep disturbance group.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The PROMIS Sleep Disturbance assessment provides a global measure of sleep rather than focusing on a particular sleep disorder.

    “The PROMIS Sleep Disturbance assessment, in particular, reflects a global measure of sleep, rather than focusing on a particular disorder.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [31] Buysse DJ Yu L Moul DE Development and validation of patient-reported outcome measures for sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairments Sleep 2010 33 781 792 20550019 PMC2880437 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [32] Yu L Buysse DJ Germain A Development of short forms from the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment item banks Behav Sleep Med 2012 10 6 24 22250775 PMC3261577 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Previous work has described the development and psychometric testing of the PROMIS sleep disturbance measure among adults aged 18 and older.

    “Previous work has described the development and psychometric testing of the PROMIS sleep disturbance measure among individuals age 18 and older. 31;32”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [31] Buysse DJ Yu L Moul DE Development and validation of patient-reported outcome measures for sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairments Sleep 2010 33 781 792 20550019 PMC2880437 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [32] Yu L Buysse DJ Germain A Development of short forms from the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment item banks Behav Sleep Med 2012 10 6 24 22250775 PMC3261577 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The decision to include all covariates in the models was made a priori based on their possible impact on sleep disturbance.

    “The decision to include all covariates in the models was made a priori based on their possible impact on sleep disturbance.35”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [35] Grandner MA Patel NP Gehrman PR Who gets the best sleep? Ethnic and socioeconomic factors related to sleep complaints Sleep Med 2010 11 470 478 20388566 PMC2861987

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    PROMIS measures are highly reliable and precise for patient-reported health, and their short forms maintain precision across a range of domains.

    “PROMIS measures have the advantage of being highly reliable and precise measures of patient-reported health, utilizing short forms of its measures to lessen participant burden while maintaining precision across a range of domains.33;34”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [33] NIH About PROMIS. PROMIS website. 2015 12 22 2015

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [34] NIH Selecting an Instrument. PROMIS website. 2015 12 22 2015

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Missing data accounted for between 0.4% and 1.6% depending on the analysis.

    “Thus, missing data accounted for between 0.4-1.6%, depending on the analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Two recent reviews found an inverse association between electronic media use and sleep parameters such as longer time to fall asleep, delayed bedtime, and reduced total sleep time.

    “Two recent reviews in this area demonstrated an inverse association between electronic media use and sleep parameters such as longer time to fall asleep, delayed bedtime, and reduced total sleep time.20;21”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [20] Cain N Gradisar M Electronic media use and sleep in school-aged children and adolescents: A review Sleep Med 2010 11 735 742 20673649 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [21] Hale L Guan S Screen time and sleep among school-aged children and adolescents: a systematic literature review Sleep Med Rev 2015 21 50 58 25193149 PMC4437561 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    People who have difficulty sleeping may subsequently spend more time using social media.

    “Alternatively, those who have difficulty sleeping may subsequently spend more time using SM.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [37] Tavernier R Willoughby T Sleep problems: predictor or outcome of media use among emerging adults at university? J Sleep Res 2014 23 389 396 24552437 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [38] Eggermont S Van den Bulck J Nodding off or switching off? The use of popular media as a sleep aid in secondary-school children J Paediatr Child Health 2006 42 428 433 16898880 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Primary analyses used survey weights calculated by GfK and applied with a post-stratification adjustment based on socio-demographic benchmark distributions.

    “We conducted all primary analyses using survey weights, which were calculated by GfK and applied using a post-stratification adjustment based on socio-demographic benchmark distributions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Diagnostics were performed to confirm that the data met the proportional-odds assumption required for ordered logistic regression.

    “We first conducted appropriate diagnostics to ensure that the data satisfied the proportional-odds assumption, which is necessary to conduct ordered logistic regression.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Because the data are cross-sectional, the study cannot determine whether social media use contributes to sleep disturbance, whether sleep disturbance contributes to social media use, or both.

    “Because the findings presented here are cross-sectional, it is not possible to determine whether SM use contributes to sleep disturbance, sleep disturbance contributes to SM use, or both.”
    • Also stated in: § Strengths and Limitations · plain
      “As noted above, one important limitation of the cross-sectional nature of the data is that we cannot determine the direction of association between SM use and sleep disturbance, nor can we attribute causality to any effect.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Of 1796 respondents (55.2%), 1788 (54.9%) had complete sleep data and were included in the analysis.

    “Responses were received from 1796 participants (55.2%), of which 1,788 participants (54.9%) had complete sleep data and were included in the analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study relied on retrospective self-report of social media use and sleep, and intensive validation with formal sleep studies or ecological momentary assessment was not feasible.

    “It was a necessary limitation that we relied on participants’ retrospective report of their SM use and sleep in completing the survey. For example, in this large population it was not feasible to intensively validate sleep patterns using formal sleep studies or to validate SM use with ecological momentary assessment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Difficulty sleeping may increase social media use, which may then worsen sleep problems.

    “It may also be that both of these hypotheses are true—difficulty sleeping may lead to increased use of SM, which may in turn lead to more problems sleeping.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A study of 11-13 year olds in the Midlands region of the United Kingdom found that television, music, and video games were more substantially associated with sleep problems than social media.

    “However, another study among 11-13 year olds in the Midlands region of the United Kingdom demonstrated that, compared with SM, use of other technologies such as television, music, and video games was more substantially associated with sleep problems.22”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] Arora T Broglia E Thomas EN Taheri S Associations between specific technologies and adolescent sleep quantity, sleep quality, and parasomnias Sleep Med 2014 15 240 247 24394730 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationown data

    The observed strong link between social media use and sleep disturbance carries meaningful clinical implications for young adults' health and well-being.

    “The strong association between SM use and sleep disturbance has important clinical implications for the health and well-being of young adults.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.
    • Rests on an assumption: The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.
18 of 18
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Self-reported estimates of time spent on social media accurately reflect participants' actual social media use.

    “It was a necessary limitation that we relied on participants’ retrospective report of their SM use and sleep in completing the survey.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 11 social media platforms assessed capture the relevant social media use for this population.

    “The frequency variable was adopted from a Pew Internet Research survey asking participants to indicate how frequently they visit or use each of the 11 most popular SM platforms: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, Vine, and LinkedIn.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sample remains nationally representative after excluding participants with missing data.

    “Responses were received from 1796 participants (55.2%), of which 1,788 participants (54.9%) had complete sleep data and were included in the analysis.”
3 of 3

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Complete-data count conflicts with social-media counts

    Minor

    The paper says 1,788 participants had complete data for the independent and dependent variables, but then says only 1,768 reported social-media volume and 1,781 reported social-media frequency. Both social-media measures are described as independent variables.

1 of 1

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Authors
Levenson, J. C., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B., & Primack, B. A.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Primack, Brian A.
Venue
Preventive Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-04
Volume
85
Pages
36-41
ISSN
0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2235566653
Cited by
447
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 53 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11
FWCI
35.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (R01-CA140150, T32-HL082610)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
social media use, sleep disorders, young adults, social media use frequency, sleep health
MeSH terms
Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Adult, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sleep Wake Disorders, Time Factors, United States, Chi-Square Distribution, Logistic Models, Young Adult, Social Media

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