Effect of Bedtime Mobile Phone Scrolling on Sleep Latency and Dream Recall among Paramedical Students
National Board of Examinations Journal of Medical Sciences March 5, 2026 S Sudharsan, NR Hemalatha, R Vidya
Among 180 paramedical students aged 18–25, 78% used mobile phones within 30 minutes before sleep. Prolonged sleep latency (>30 minutes) was more common among pre-bedtime phone users than non-users (44% vs. 16%). Phone users also reported higher dream recall frequency and poorer subjective sleep quality; only 14% of phone users felt refreshed on waking, compared to 38% of non-users. The study indicates that bedtime mobile phone use is associated with delayed sleep onset, increased dream recall, and poorer sleep quality.