Kids with TVs or computers in their rooms sleep less

Washington, Sept 3 : Kids who have television or computer in their rooms sleep less during the school year than their peers who don't have the facilities, a new study has found.

The joint study conducted by Prof. Yael Latzer and Dr. Tamar Shochat of the University of Haifa and Prof. Orna Chishinsky from Jezreel Valley College examined 444 middle school pupils with an average age of 14.

The children were asked about their sleep habits, their use of computer and television, and their eating habits while watching TV or using the computer.

The kids reported an average bedtime of 11:04 P.M and wake-up time of 6:45 A.M. On the weekends, the average bedtime was somewhat later - at 1:45 A.M. and wake-up much later - at 11:30 A.M.

And those children with TVs or computers in their room went to sleep half an hour later on average but woke up at the same time.

Middle school pupils watch a daily average of two hours and 40 minutes of TV and use their computer for three hours and 45 minutes.

However, on weekends, they watch half an hour more TV than during the rest of the week and use their computers for four hours.

Children with a TV in their room watch an hour more than those without and those with their own computer use it an hour more than their peers.

Nearly a fifth of the children said they ate in front of the TV set on a regular basis, while 70 percent said they did so only occasionally.

Only 10percent reported never eating in front of the TV.

ANI