Evening Screen Content and Sleep Architecture in Older Adults: Crossover RCT

Blekinge Institute of Technology

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Sleep

Treatments: Behavioral: Non-digital book reading; Behavioral: Calming digital content; Behavioral: Exciting Digital Content

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07001514

BTH-6.1.1-0093-2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

Title

The Effect of Evening Technology Use with Calming vs. Exciting Content on Sleep Architecture in Older Adults: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

The study explores how evening use of digital devices with different types of content (calming vs. exciting) affects sleep in older adults. While technology's effects on sleep have been studied in younger populations, its specific impacts on older adults remain under-researched. This study fills that gap by focusing on subjective and objective sleep measures.

Objectives and Research Questions

Objective: Compare the effects of calming digital content, exciting digital content, and non-digital activities on sleep architecture.

Key Questions:

How does content type impact sleep architecture and quality? Does calming content lead to better sleep outcomes than exciting content? Are there subjective differences in sleep quality across conditions?

Full description

This study will compare the effects of watching calming (nature documentaries), playing exciting digital games like Ruzzle, and reading a physical book on older adults' subjective and objective sleep quality. This will be a randomized crossover trial. The investigators will exclude participants with diagnosed sleep disorders, Severe cognitive impairment, Use of sleep-affecting medications such as melatonin or benzodiazepines, or Irregular sleep schedules. A sample size of approximately 50 participants (49-51) will be recruited.

All the participants will have all three intervention periods with washout periods in between. During every intervention week, participants will fill out a quick nightly log about their sleep and what tech they used (smartphone, tablet, or a laptop/computer). During sleep, they will wear a comfy EEG headband measuring their sleep stages.

Because everyone eventually does all three conditions, the investigators can compare each person's own results and get more precise answers with fewer people.

The investigators will analyze the data and perform a statistical analysis. The study will be reported in the manuscript and published in a reputable journal.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 60 - 75 years
2. Regular evening use of digital devices (e.g., smartphones or tablets)
3. Willing and able to wear an EEG headband for sleep monitoring throughout the intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed sleep disorder
2. Severe cognitive impairment
3. Current use of medications that significantly influence sleep (e.g., melatonin, benzodiazepines)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 3 patient groups

Calming Digital Content

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will watch calming digital content - specifically, nature documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough - for 30 to 60 minutes within one hour before bedtime. Sleep outcomes will be assessed using EEG recordings and subjective sleep quality logs.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Calming digital content

Exciting Digital Content

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will engage with exciting digital content by playing the word-based game Ruzzle for 30 to 60 minutes within one hour before bedtime. Sleep outcomes will be evaluated using EEG measurements and subjective sleep assessments.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exciting Digital Content

Non-Digital Pre-Sleep Activity

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will engage in a non-digital activity by reading a physical, non-fiction book of their choice for 30 to 60 minutes within one hour before bedtime. No digital screens will be used. Sleep outcomes will be monitored via EEG data and self-reported sleep quality measures.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Non-digital book reading