The correlation between smart device usage & sleep quality among UAE residents

Background: The usage of smart-devices has increased considerably both globally and specifically in Middle Eastern countries. Recently, it has been shown that 65% of United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents lack proper sleep. Several health aspects of the relationship between over usage of smart-devices and poor sleep quality have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to determine the correlation between smart-device overuse and sleep quality among UAE residents. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire-based study. Our sample comprised 494 participants, from the three major cities in the UAE. Statistical and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS. Results: Overall, 47.5% of the population were considered heavy users of smart-devices, of which 81% were poor sleepers. Furthermore, the physical proximity of the smart-device at night affected sleep quality; as the distance decreased, the sleep quality worsened, reaching a value of 86.8%. It was also found that 74.5% of the participants used their smart-device at bedtime. Conclusion: Poor sleep is strongly correlated with smart-device overuse. Specifically, poor sleepers were five times more likely to be overusers. The intensity and duration of smart-device usage during the whole day impacted sleep quality more drastically than just before bedtime usage. With the increasing dependence and inappropriate use of smart-devices, future studies are needed to further understand the short and long term impact of this trend on the health and wellbeing of younger individuals as well as the whole community. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.