According to the results of a survey conducted by the Statens Institut for Folkesundhed concerning the sleeping habits of 11,000 young people aged between 16 and 24, half of them suffer from sleep deprivation.
The main cause of the problem is electronic screens, such as mobile phones, tablets, TVs and computers.
“70 percent of young men and 80 percent of young women said that electronics were the main cause of their lack of sleep, and the lockdowns during the pandemic could have played a role, such as homeschooling and home office,” said Anne Illemann Christensen, the head of research at the Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, told TV2.
Get the screens out of the bedroom!
The negative effects of sleep deprivation on our health and well-being should be obvious, added Poul Jennum, a professor and sleep researcher at Rigshospitalet.
Too little sleep can lead to a lack of energy, inability to concentrate and memory loss, he underscored to TV2.
“Our brains need one to two hours of relaxation before we go to sleep. Turn off the computer and don’t argue with your family or partner so we can tell our brain that it’s time to sleep,” he said.
Christensen concurred. “Get the screens out of the bedroom,” she urged.
