Publication:

Prevalence of poor sleep quality and its association with screen time among adults: a cross-sectional study in Nagpur city of Central India

Background Poor sleep quality is an emerging public health concern and has been linked to excessive screen use and psychological distress. With the increasing use of smartphones and other digital devices, understanding their impact on sleep quality has become increasingly important. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and assess its association with screen time and psychological factors among adults.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 adults aged 18-40 years attending an Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) in Nagpur, Central India, from January to April 2026. Data were collected using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and anxiety and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Chi-square test was used to assess associations, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 49.4% (173/350). Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with total daily screen time (x2=11.2, p=0.011) and bedtime screen use (x2=9.93, p=0.002). Significant associations were also observed between poor sleep quality and perceived stress (x2=9.44, p=0.009) and anxiety (x2=19.2, p<0.001). No statistically significant association was found between depression and sleep quality (x2=1.10, p=0.295).

Conclusions Nearly half of the study participants had poor sleep quality. Longer daily screen time, prolonged bedtime screen use, higher perceived stress, and anxiety were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Health education regarding responsible screen use, sleep hygiene, and stress management may help improve sleep quality among adults.