Change of Internet Use and Bedtime among Junior High School Students after Long-Term School Closure Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Most schools in Japan were closed in spring 2020 due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We investigated lifestyle and internet use among junior high school students across eight schools after long-term school closure and compared the data with those we obtained from previous surveys. In the summers of 2018, 2019, and 2020, we conducted questionnaire surveys on seventh-grade students from the same schools. In total, 2270 participants were analyzed. All questionnaires included items regarding background, bedtime, and internet use. The participants of the 2020 survey had significantly less sleepiness during classes and longer internet use times compared with those of the previous surveys. In the 2020 survey, the rate of problematic internet use (Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire score, >= 5) was not significantly different from the results of previous surveys. The COVID-19 pandemic might have strongly influenced the sleepiness experienced by students in classes and increased the time spent using the internet since the summer of 2020. Our results indicate the need for attempts to encourage students to improve their sleep habits and moderate their media use.

Automated summary

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most schools in Japan were closed in spring 2020. The study found that junior high school students experienced less sleepiness in classes and increased internet use time after the long-term school closure. However, the rate of problematic internet use did not significantly change, highlighting the need to encourage students to improve their sleep habits and moderate their media use.