Daytime Impairment due to College Student Technology use during Sleep: a First Step toward Exploring Similarities to Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Similar to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), technology use after sleep onset causes fragmented sleep, as well as daytime impairment to functioning. Young adults are at increased risk for sleep disruption due to technological interruptions during sleep. The purpose of this study was to explore sleep disruption caused by technology use after sleep onset, using three quantitative measures that are regularly used to assess sleep disruption in OSA. Our aim was to determine the most robust measure of daytime impairment among college-aged technology users. In a sample of 60 college students, findings revealed that students who attended to technology after sleep onset reported increased sleep disruption and daytime impairment as compared to non-technology users. Technology use after sleep onset also predicted general ratings of fatigue upon waking and increased scores on Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), but not on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. General ratings of fatigue and the ESS may be the most valid measures of functional impairment in college students.