The effect of sleep quality on academic performance is mediated by Internet use time: DADOS study

Abstract

Objective: The aims of the present study were to analyze the association of sleep patterns withacademic and cognitive performance in adolescents, and to test the potential mediating effectof different activities of screen media usage on this association.Methods: A sample of 269 adolescents (140 boys) aged 14 years from the baseline data of theDeporte, ADOlescencia y Salud study completed questionnaires about sleep quality, cognitiveperformance, and leisure-time sedentary behaviors. Sleep duration was objectively computedusing a wrist-worn GENEActiv accelerometer and academic performance was analyzed throughschool records.Results: Sleep quality (but not sleep duration) was associated with all the academic perfor-mance indicators (all p < 0.05). Analysis of covariance revealed higher grades among adolescentswith better sleep quality (PSQI ≤ 5; all p < 0.05). These analyses showed no differences regardingcognitive performance. Internet use time was revealed as a mediator of the association betweensleep quality and academic performance, being significant for all academic performance indi-cators (PMranging from 15.5% to 16.0%).