Messaging Affects Sleep and School Performance in Chinese Adolescents

Objectives: We evaluated associations among night messaging, daytime sleepiness, and school performance in Chinese adolescents, while controlling for sleep duration. Methods: Statistical analysis assessed associations of sleep schedules, daytime sleepiness, messaging habits, and academic performance from self-reported questionnaires (N = 2094). Results: Participants reported slightly earlier bedtimes, much earlier rise times, and shorter sleep durations on school versus weekend nights. Students who messaged at night were 1.629 and 2.833 times more likely to report poor school performance and daytime sleepiness, respectively (p < .0001). Longer messaging duration was associated with increased daytime sleepiness and poorer academic performance. Less daytime sleepiness and better school performance was reported for every extra hour of sleep. Conclusions: Nocturnal messaging may contribute to poor sleep and school performance.