University Research Links Evening Screen Time to Reduced Sleep Duration

University of the Sunshine Coast researchers tracking 420 adults across the region found that those who used phones or tablets within one hour of bedtime lost an average of 47 minutes of total sleep time each night.

The pattern matters now because many Sunshine Coast households increased screen hours during the past two years while remote work and streaming habits settled into routines that stretch past 10pm. Local sleep clinics report a 28 percent rise in referrals for insomnia since early 2025, with staff noting repeated mentions of late-night scrolling on the Mooloolaba Esplanade and along Noosa National Park coastal track access roads.

Regional programs track the effects

USC’s health research programs based at the Sippy Downs campus began collecting wrist-worn actigraphy data in January 2025 from volunteers living in Maroochydore and Buderim. The same team partnered with Eumundi markets stallholders to supply evening snack packs containing magnesium-rich produce such as spinach and almonds, testing whether replacing screen time with a short market walk improved sleep onset by at least 20 minutes. Early results showed participants who swapped 30 minutes of phone use for an Eumundi market circuit fell asleep 18 minutes faster on average.

A separate 2025 analysis of 1,150 Sunshine Coast residents aged 25 to 54 recorded that each additional hour of evening screen exposure after 9pm correlated with a 12 percent increase in reported next-day fatigue scores. The study controlled for alcohol intake and exercise levels, isolating device light as the dominant variable.

Small changes tested locally

Residents can test the findings by setting a household device curfew at 8:30pm and replacing it with a 15-minute walk along the Mooloolaba Esplanade boardwalk or a visit to the Eumundi markets twilight stalls. USC researchers advise keeping bedroom phones on airplane mode and charging them outside the sleeping area. Those who want personalised guidance are directed to consult a local medical professional at clinics in Nambour or Caloundra rather than relying on general advice alone.