Topic > Electronic Media Essay - 1003

With all the technological advances over the past twenty years and the rise of social media over the past ten, it is not unreasonable or inconceivable to suggest that electronic media devices present in children and adolescents Bedrooms inhibit normal sleep processes, causing tiredness at school and the onset of delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD). There are more and more studies conducted around the world that support this theory, only some of which will be cited in the following essay. Evidence found increasingly shows that children and adolescents with electronic media devices in their bedrooms have poorer sleep and sleep habits and worse sleep quality than those without. The first article discussed in this essay by Suganuma, Kikuchi, Yanagi, Yamamura, Morishima, Adach, Kumano-Go, Mikami, Sugita and Takeda, (2007) is one of the most basic in terms of content and compared to other studies, but also one of the most necessary to mention. They used a series of surveys and questionnaires to assess the level of insufficient sleep perceived and attributed to the use of electronic media devices before attempting to fall asleep at night. Their results showed that those who used electronic media consistently reported insufficient sleep and sleep deficits. A study by Pieters, De Valck, Vandekerckhove, Pirrera, Wuyts, Exadaktylos, Haex, Michiels, Verbraecken, Cluydts, (2012), suggests that there is a biological change in the circadian rhythm of adolescents and that the onset of sleep and wakefulness is delayed, resulting in later bedtimes and later wake-ups. Numerous environmental factors are also mentioned in relation to these biological factors, as it leads to sleep deficits and DPSD. We also inform parents, teachers and healthcare professionals that watching television and using computers in particular can lead to negative sleep habits, resulting in daytime sleepiness at school, attention and behavioral problems, as well as an increased risk for mental and physical health. This supports the recommendation that there should be greater monitoring and control by parents over their children's daily exposure to electronic media devices. The article by Nuutinen, Ray, and Roos provides a good comparison to most other studies in this area as they tend to focus on media use among adolescents. But it is important to note that exposure to electronic media is becoming increasingly higher even among children, which can consequently lead to the pathological use (King, Delfabbro, Zwaans, Kaptsis, 2013) mentioned above when they become adolescents.