We’ve known for a while that teens are increasingly become more plugged into technology, but a new study shows just how close the bond between teens and their mobiles has gone.
A new CensusAtSchool survey by the Central Statistics Office found that about 30 per cent of secondary school students sleep with their phones under their pillows at night.
The survey pulled in 7,150 secondary school attendees from 216 schools. Participants were also asked questions about their breakfast habits, what time they wake up in the morning, what sports they participate in and the Olympics.
Female respondents were more likely to experience mobile separation anxiety with 35 per cent storing their phones beneath their head while they slept. Male respondents followed at 23 per cent.
The majority of those who don’t feel the need to sleep with their phones still kept it in the room at night, coming in at 55 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively.
Only 8 per cent of female respondents and 10 per cent of male respondents dared to let their phone rest in a different room than their own.
While many students may just be using their phones as morning alarms, likely many are also using them to make sure they don’t miss a single text or status update. This could mean missing out on the recommended nine-and-a-quarter hours recommended by the National Sleep Foundation for teens to be at their best.
The foundation lists multiple consequences of not getting enough sleep, such as poor concentration, decreased ability to listen and learn, illness and even aggression.
So parents, if you notice that your teen seems to be struggling to stay awake, best start by checking under the pillow.