Faculty mentor/PI email address
langford@rowan.edu
Keywords
Sleep quality, blue light, circadian rhythm, sleep disruption, daytime sleepiness, adolescent/young adult
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
Pro-2025-100
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background: Digital screens, such as smartphones, computers, and tablets, emit blue light in the short wavelength range of ~400–500 nm. This exposure impacts the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the brain's biological clock, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle via melatonin secretion from the pineal gland. Blue light is known to suppress melatonin, potentially leading to poor sleep quality and sleep disruptions. Significance: With approximately 90% of Americans using electronic devices within one hour of bedtime, understanding these effects is critical for public health. Previous research often excluded young adults, specific target populations, like athletes, or focused solely on the biochemistry of blue light. Methods: A narrative synthesis was conducted through a database search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science (2010–2025). Inclusion criteria targeted English-language sleep studies of the general population aged 13–30. A total of 12 studies were ultimately included in the review. Results: The literature review supported the hypotheses that blue light exposure before bed negatively impacts sleep. For sleep quality, with increased screen time, particularly two hours before bed, there was a link to worse sleep quality and decreased nighttime sleepiness. Some studies noted longer sleep latency and shorter sleep duration when blue light was present. For sleep disruption, exposure to blue light significantly suppressed melatonin levels, with delays in secretion up to two hours later. It also correlated with higher insomnia scores and changes in sleep architecture, such as reduced REM sleep. For daytime sleepiness, studies indicated that pre-bed device use resulted in increased morning sleepiness and a higher frequency of errors during daytime tasks. Conclusion: The findings suggest that blue light from digital devices significantly impairs sleep health in adolescents and young adults. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies with larger, standardized samples to better understand the long-term developmental impacts of screen-based blue light exposure.
Disciplines
Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment
Included in
Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons
The Effects of Blue Light from Technology on Sleep Health in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Literature Review
Background: Digital screens, such as smartphones, computers, and tablets, emit blue light in the short wavelength range of ~400–500 nm. This exposure impacts the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the brain's biological clock, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle via melatonin secretion from the pineal gland. Blue light is known to suppress melatonin, potentially leading to poor sleep quality and sleep disruptions. Significance: With approximately 90% of Americans using electronic devices within one hour of bedtime, understanding these effects is critical for public health. Previous research often excluded young adults, specific target populations, like athletes, or focused solely on the biochemistry of blue light. Methods: A narrative synthesis was conducted through a database search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science (2010–2025). Inclusion criteria targeted English-language sleep studies of the general population aged 13–30. A total of 12 studies were ultimately included in the review. Results: The literature review supported the hypotheses that blue light exposure before bed negatively impacts sleep. For sleep quality, with increased screen time, particularly two hours before bed, there was a link to worse sleep quality and decreased nighttime sleepiness. Some studies noted longer sleep latency and shorter sleep duration when blue light was present. For sleep disruption, exposure to blue light significantly suppressed melatonin levels, with delays in secretion up to two hours later. It also correlated with higher insomnia scores and changes in sleep architecture, such as reduced REM sleep. For daytime sleepiness, studies indicated that pre-bed device use resulted in increased morning sleepiness and a higher frequency of errors during daytime tasks. Conclusion: The findings suggest that blue light from digital devices significantly impairs sleep health in adolescents and young adults. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies with larger, standardized samples to better understand the long-term developmental impacts of screen-based blue light exposure.