"Trouble switching off": negotiating sleep, screens, and digital device use among young adults.

INTRODUCTION

The paradoxical nature of the widespread phenomenon of digital device use during nightly routines before sleep is intriguing. However, despite the widespread recognition of medical knowledge that blue light may induce sleep disturbances, numerous individuals persist in this behavior.

METHODS

This study examines how young adults use digital devices before sleeping, drawing on focus groups from 75 participants to uncover individuals' motives, behaviors, and subjective rationales.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The study's findings indicate a knowledge-behavior divide, as 79% of participants acknowledged their awareness of potential concerns regarding the use of bedtime devices but continued to engage in this behavior. The most prevalent factors were routine media consumption (80%), psychological needs such as relaxation (40%), distraction from rumination (40%), and bedtime storytelling equivalent (37%). The findings of this study suggest that the use of electronic devices during bedtime is a complex negotiation between psychological self-care and biomedical advice. This reveals the limitations of health informational interventions in addressing culturally normalized behaviors among young adults.