Qu Shuangxiao, Zhang Fengyun, Wang Xuelai, Huang Shenglei, Zheng Keyang, Chu Liting, Huang Yuting, Yang Yanting, Yang Dongling, Luo Chunyan
Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 20;16:1618965. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1618965. eCollection 2025.
To investigate the association between using screen in the dark-a predominant source of LAN-and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents.
This study utilized a sample of 3659 adolescents (51.87% boy, mean age 14.41 ± 1.55 years) from the 2020-2022 Surveillance of Students' Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors in Shanghai, China. Baseline screen usage was collected by self-reported questionnaire. Depressive symptoms at baseline, 1- and 2-year follow-up were assessed using the Center for Epidemiology Scale. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association of using screen in the dark with depressive symptoms.
The prevalence of depressive symptoms and severe depressive symptoms in this study was 23.59% and 5.25% respectively at baseline. 15.76% adolescents who had depressive symptoms in 2020 aggravated to severe depressive symptoms in 2021 or 2022. 12.38% of the participants reported using screen in the dark. Using screen in the dark was associated with higher likelihood of depressive symptoms ( = 1.89, 95%: 1.67, 2.15) and severe depressive symptoms ( = 1.89, 95%: 1.54, 2.31). The adverse effect of using screen in the dark and screen time > 2 hours/day on depressive symptoms was slightly higher than only screen time > 2 hours/day ( = 1.24, 95%: 1.12, 1.37) or only using screen in the dark ( = 2.15, 95%: 1.73, 2.67). Additionally, those who using screen in the dark combination with screen time > 2 hours/day or insufficient sleep have the highest likelihood of depressive symptoms.
Screen use in dark environments independently related to depressive symptoms in adolescents, with compounded associations from excessive screen time and sleep deprivation. These findings underscore the need for public health interventions targeting nighttime digital behaviors.
探讨在黑暗环境中使用电子设备（局域网的主要来源）与中国青少年抑郁症状之间的关联。
本研究采用了来自2020 - 2022年中国上海学生常见疾病及健康影响因素监测的3659名青少年样本（男生占51.87%，平均年龄14.41±1.55岁）。通过自我报告问卷收集基线电子设备使用情况。在基线、随访1年和2年时，使用流行病学中心量表评估抑郁症状。采用广义估计方程来评估在黑暗环境中使用电子设备与抑郁症状之间的关联。
本研究中，基线时抑郁症状和重度抑郁症状的患病率分别为23.59%和5.25%。2020年有抑郁症状的青少年中，15.76%在2021年或2022年加重为重度抑郁症状。12.38%的参与者报告在黑暗环境中使用电子设备。在黑暗环境中使用电子设备与出现抑郁症状（比值比=1.89，95%置信区间：1.67，2.15）和重度抑郁症状（比值比=1.89，95%置信区间：1.54，2.31）的可能性更高相关。在黑暗环境中使用电子设备且每天电子设备使用时间>2小时对抑郁症状的不良影响略高于仅每天电子设备使用时间>2小时（比值比=1.24，95%置信区间：1.12，1.37）或仅在黑暗环境中使用电子设备（比值比=2.15，95%置信区间：1.73，2.67）。此外，在黑暗环境中使用电子设备且每天电子设备使用时间>2小时或睡眠不足的青少年出现抑郁症状的可能性最高。
在黑暗环境中使用电子设备与青少年抑郁症状独立相关，且过度使用电子设备时间和睡眠不足会产生复合关联。这些发现强调了针对夜间数字行为进行公共卫生干预的必要性。
