| Description: |
Background We aimed to extend existing research on associations between bedtime media use and sleep in adults by taking relevant covariates into account and testing hypothesised mediating and moderating pathways. Methods Frequency of bedtime media use and sleep outcomes were examined by questionnaire in 4188 adults (59% women, aged 19-94 years) from the Specchio cohort in Geneva, Switzerland. We tested: 1) associations between bedtime media use and sleep (bedtimes, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and daytime sleepiness), adjusting for prior sleep, mental health, and health behaviours (physical activity, binge drinking, smoking, total leisure screen time), 2) whether bedtime media use mediates associations between individual susceptibility factors (age, chronotype, and mental health) and sleep, and 3) whether individual susceptibility factors moderate associations between bedtime media use and sleep. Results Often using a screen in the 30 minutes before going to sleep at night was associated with a late bedtime (≥midnight; OR [95% CI]=1.90 [1.44, 2.51], p < 0.001), short sleep duration (9; 1.47 [1.25, 1.74], p < 0.001) after adjustment for all covariates. Bedtime media use partly mediated the association between younger age and an evening chronotype and these sleep outcomes. Mental health moderated the association between bedtime media use and sleep quality/insomnia, such that the former was associated with poorer sleep quality/insomnia among individuals with better mental health, but not among those with poorer mental health. Conclusions Frequent bedtime media use was associated with various sleep outcomes, independently of relevant covariates. Limiting the use of screens at bedtime is important to promote sleep among adults. Individuals with poorer mental health likely require additional support to improve their sleep quality. Key messages • ... |