Evening Screen Time for Sleep Issues in Kids

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine

Must not be taking: Melatonin, Steroids

Disqualifiers: Chronic medical condition, Sleep disorder, Cognitive impairment, Vision problems, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

To test the timing of evening tablet use on children's circadian phase and sleep (i.e., sleep onset and sleep duration) compared to no screen media use. To explore the effect of evening tablet use on children's inhibitory control and executive function.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that children not take any medications that affect sleep or circadian rhythms, such as melatonin or steroids.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for reducing screen time and improving sleep in children?

Research shows that interventions to limit children's screen use can reduce screen time by about 33 minutes per day and increase sleep duration by about 11 minutes per day. These changes also help children go to bed earlier, especially on weekends. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is limiting evening screen time safe for children?

Research shows that reducing evening screen time in children is generally safe and can lead to improved sleep duration and earlier bedtimes. No significant safety concerns have been reported in studies evaluating interventions to limit screen use in children. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How does the treatment of timed evening technology and digital media use differ from other treatments for sleep issues in kids?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on regulating the timing and amount of screen time in the evening, which has been shown to improve sleep duration and advance bedtime in children. Unlike other treatments that might involve medication or behavioral therapy, this approach directly addresses the impact of electronic media on sleep patterns. ^{1 3 6 9 10}

Research Team

Eligibility Criteria

This study is for preschool-aged children (4 to just under 5 years old) and their parents in the Greater Houston area. Parents must be primary caregivers, comfortable with English, and have a child who uses or has access to an Android OS ≥5.0 or Apple iOS ≥14.0 tablet.

Inclusion Criteria

The child does not have to have access to a mobile device, but if they do, the primary device they use has to be an Android OS ≥5.0 either used only by the study child or shared with others, or an Apple iOS ≥14.0 that only the child uses

Parent and child must be fluent in English

Parent must be a biological parent or legal guardian who lives with the child ≥50% of the time and has a primary role of caring for the child

Exclusion Criteria

Child with blindness or significant vision problems that impacts both screen media use and sleep

My child has a condition or takes medication that affects their sleep or learning abilities.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline

Children maintain a sleep schedule within 30 minutes +/- of their habitual bedtime

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants follow assigned screen media use conditions: no screen use or tablet use 1 or 2 hours before bed

2 weeks

1 visit (in-person) for dim light melatonin onset assessment

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in sleep, circadian phase, and executive functioning

1 week

1 visit (in-person) for final assessments

Treatment Details

Interventions

• no technology and digital media use (screen media use) (Behavioural Intervention)
• Timed evening technology and digital media use (tablet use) (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial Overview The study examines how using tablets in the evening affects young children's sleep patterns and behavior compared to not using screen media at all. It looks into when kids fall asleep, how long they sleep, and their ability to control impulses.

Participant Groups

Group I: Group B: 1 hour of tablet use 2 hours before bed Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

During week 1, children will maintain a sleep schedule within 30 minutes +/- of their habitual bedtime. This bedtime will be maintained throughout the 3 weeks of the study except on nights when dim light melatonin onset is assessed in the lab. During week 2, participants will be asked to reframe from screen use in the 3 hours before bedtime for 6 evenings. During week 3, participants will be exposed to 1 hour of tablet use (Standard bright setting), 2 hours before bedtime (and no screen use in the hour before bed) for 6 evenings.

Group II: Group A: 1 hour of tablet use in the hour before bed Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

During week 1, children will maintain a sleep schedule within 30 minutes +/- of their habitual bedtime. This bedtime will be maintained throughout the 3 weeks of the study except on nights when dim light melatonin onset is assessed in the lab. During week 2, participants will be asked to reframe from screen use in the 3 hours before bed time for 6 evenings. During week 3, participants will be exposed to 1 hour of tablet use (Standard bright setting), 1 hour before bedtime for 6 evenings.

Group III: Control Condition Active Control 1 Intervention

During week 1, children will maintain a sleep schedule within 30 minutes +/- of their habitual bedtime. This bedtime will be maintained throughout the 3 weeks of the study except on nights when dim light melatonin onset is assessed in the lab. During week 2, participants will engage no screen use for the 3 hours before bedtime for 6 evenings. During week 3, participants will be asked to engage in no screen use in the 3 hours before bedtime for 6 evenings.

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

Children's Nutrition Research Center Houston, TX

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Baylor College of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1044

Patients Recruited

6,031,000+

Northern Illinois University

Collaborator

Trials

9

Patients Recruited

940+

William Marsh Rice University

Collaborator

Trials

50

Patients Recruited

28,400+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2103

Patients Recruited

2,760,000+

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions to control children's screen use and their effect on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of electronic time monitors on children's television watching: pilot trial of a home-based intervention. [2018]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bedtime Use of Technology and Associated Sleep Problems in Children. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep habits and pattern in 1-14 years old children and relationship with video devices use and evening and night child activities. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bedtime digital media use, sleep and fatigue among survivors of childhood cancer, their siblings and healthy control sibling pairs. [2023]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electronic media use and sleep in school-aged children and adolescents: A review. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Availability and night-time use of electronic entertainment and communication devices are associated with short sleep duration and obesity among Canadian children. [2017]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adolescents living the 24/7 lifestyle: effects of caffeine and technology on sleep duration and daytime functioning. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bidirectional relationships between sleep duration and screen time in early childhood. [2015]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association between Media Use and Bedtime Delays in Young Children: An Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. [2022]