by
Stepy —
April 23, 2014
- Do not ignore the power of a good night’s sleep. Quality sleep has become somewhat of a rarity these days.
- Sometimes, it is easy to believe that you can get by without an adequate amount of rest, but a lack of sleep can contribute to health risks in the long run, so it is important to make it a priority.
- A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard School of Public Health following children from ages 6 months to about 8 years, found a consistent link between television viewing and a shorter amount of sleep. Having a television in the same room where a child sleeps was also associated with shorter sleep duration.
- This study was published in the May issue of Pediatrics, and it is the first study in several years to examine the link between television viewing and sleep.
- The study participants, children and their mothers, were enrolled into a long-term investigation called “Project Viva,” which examined the health effects of several factors during and after pregnancy.
- The research team analyzed information that mothers provided them with when the children were around 6 months old and then every year for the next 7 years. The mothers reported how much time infants were in a room when a television was on, how much time per day older children watched television, whether children ages 4 to 7 slept in the same room where a television was, and their child’s average amount of sleep per night.
- The results showed that over the course of the investigation, each additional our of watching television was associated with an average of 7 fewer minutes of sleep per night, and the effects were stronger in boys than girls. The children who slept in the same room as where a television was present showed an average of half an hour less sleep per night.
- Note: The content on our website is for educational purposes only. Please consult your health practitioner or a qualified expert.
- For the health benefits of sleeping.
- Fragmented sleep may accelerate tumor growth.
- REFERENCES:
- 1. “Television Viewing, Bedroom Television, and Sleep Duration From Infancy to Mid-Childhood.” Pediatrics. Pediatrics, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- 2. “Study Supports Detrimental Effects of Television Viewing on Sleep in Young Children.” EurekAlert! Massachusetts General Hospital, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- 3. “Detrimental Effects of Television Viewing on Sleep in Young Children.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
