‘Gaming causes lack of sleep’

Playing video games late at night is one of the main factors of sleeplessness, according to a US study.

The National Sleep Foundation found that 95 per cent of people questioned used some type of electronics in the hour before going to bed, while two thirds admitted they don’t get enough sleep.

More than a third of those aged between 13 and 18 years old played games before bedtime, as did 28 per cent of young adults aged between 19 and 29 years old, reports Reuters.

Unfortunately, cell phones and computers, which make our lives more productive and enjoyable, may be abused to the point that they contribute to getting less sleep at night,” said NSF’s vice chairman Russell Rosenberg.

This leaves millions of Americans functioning poorly the next day.”

The non-profit organisation said this lack of sleep negatively impacts people’s work, mood, family, driving habits, sex lives and health.

Sleep experts suggest teenagers get nine hours and 15 minutes of sleep a night, but those in the study averaged seven hours and 26 minutes on weeknights.

Technology has invaded the bedroom,” added Charles Czeisler of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Kids today are getting an hour and a half to two hours less sleep per night than they did a century ago. That means that they are losing about 50 hours of sleep per month.

Parents should get these technologies out of the bedrooms of kids if they want them to do well (in school).”