The impact of screen use and social media on the sleep of children and adolescents

Many people are using screens and engaging more and more with social media, research is in its infancy, but there is clear evidence that excessive use of devices and engagement with social media has detrimental effects of our mental health and our sleep.  Improving sleep outcomes whilst at the same time managing a screen addiction is likely to produce more robust and enduring clinical outcomes for these clients, whom are extremely numerous. 

Sleep disturbances in younger people are common and have been seen to increase significantly through and after the covid-19 pandemic. There has also been an increase in social media usage through this time and current research suggests that there is a significant link between screen usage and poorer mental health outcomes which are likely to be driven, at least in part, by disturbed sleep.

A knowledge of managing social media and screen usage as well as employing evidence-based strategies for improving sleep in this group is important for psychologists in order to enhance their practice and optimise their treatment outcomes.

This webinar will describe the science of sleep, the impact that the use of screens generally, and social media engagement more specifically, can have on sleep organisation, quantity and quality and the importance of optimising sleep to enhance activities of daily living. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to;

• Understand and explain the science of sleep and how different sleep stages are impacted by screen and social media use
• Be aware of and able to recognise some insomnias and parasomnias which may manifest in people who are living with a screen addiction
• Identify appropriate treatment approaches for these clients
• Understand and explain the significance of sleep quality in this group and be able to apply evidence-based interventions to assist their clients

Is this course right for me? 

This webinar is suitable for;

• All psychologists working with clients who have experience of addiction, especially in the areas of phones, screens and social media will benefit from this training
• Those working in clincial, health and educational settings may find this particualrly useful, but the webinar is not limited to this group
• Those at all career stages.There are no prerequisites required for this webinar

Webinar presenter: Dr David Lee BSc PhD CertEd CPsychol AFBPsS CSci.  

Originally a Human Biologist, but then conducted a PhD in Sleep Psychology at Loughborough University's internationally renowned Sleep Research Centre examining sleep and associated quality of life in vulnerable, clinical groups. Since then he has held academic posts at Bradford and Newcastle Universities, lecturing in Psychobehavioural Treatments for Insomnia and holds a certificate in higher education practice.   

He has trained in the delivery of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) and Good Clinical Practice, was registered as Newcastle University's Sleep Expert; has made several appearances on local and national radio; and presented as 'Dr Sleep' at recent Newcastle ScienceFest events in 2010 and 2011.  He has delivered training and teaching workshops / seminars to a range of healthcare professionals including: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, GPs, Nurses, Midwives, Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Occupational Therapists, etc... ... and delivered training in this field for the British Psychological Society over the last 5 years with each of the 5 courses delivered to date being sold-out.     

He provides consultation to companies and individuals relating to sleep and has provided expert witness testimony to the court.  Findings from his own research have been published in international, peer-reviewed journals.  He is author of the recently published "Teaching the World to Sleep." 2017. Routledge, London.