Digital Habits and Well-Being:

Exploring the Relationships between Sleep, Screen Time, and Stress

by Madison Sleppy

In a world where we depend on technology, screen time is part of our daily life. Using a dataset of 15,000 individuals, this research explores how screen time relates to sleep quality and stress levels.This is especially relevant for students and young adults, who often spend more time on their devices and have irregular sleep patterns.

Note:
Variables have been assigned groups based on their values.
This is applicable to most variables (a score, hours, etc.):
Low = Under 3; Medium = Between 3 and 6; High = Over 6

Sleep quality has a different scale (in hours):
Low = Under 6; Medium = Between 6 and 8; High = Over 8

Screen Time and Stress Levels

As daily screen time increases, stress levels increase with them.

Sleep Quality Declines with Increased Screen Time

As daily screen time increases, the quality of sleep decreases.

Combined Effects of Screen Time and Sleep on Stress

Individuals with higher daily screen times tend to have higher stress levels.

Stress Levels Across Occupations

Stress levels vary slightly across occupations, with students having the highest stress levels.

Sleep and Screen Time Patterns by Occupation

Across different occupations, screen time trends are similar. More screen time leads to less sleep.

Key Takeaways

While analyzing the data, several patterns stood out, especially for students and other individuals with high daily screen time.

  • Age and gender had minimal impact on stress and sleep patterns. This indicates that daily habits matter more than demographics.
  • Caffeine had less influence on sleep quality than expected. Daily screen time habits may be a more important factor to focus on.
  • Occupation differences were relatively small. Stress is influenced more by an individual's lifestyle than their job type.
  • Daily screen time consistently showed the strongest relationship with both stress and sleep.

Overall, the data suggests that small changes in daily habits, mainly reducing screen time, can have a meaningful impact on stress levels and overall sleep quality.

Advice

Based on the patterns observed in the data, small changes in daily habits can lead to improvements in both sleep quality and stress levels.

  • Limit Screen Time
    Reducing daily screen time, especially before going to sleep, can improve sleep quality. Disabling notifications on smartphones can also lead to decreased screen time, so this is recommended.
  • Prioritize Consistent Sleeping Habits
    Better sleep is strongly associated with lower stress levels. Stop using smartphones thirty-to-sixty minutes before bedtime to get better sleep.
  • Be Mindful of Daily Screen Time
    High screen time consistently aligns with higher stress. To monitor screen time, individuals can set screen time limits on their smartphones.
  • Schedule Sessions Without Screen Time
    Leaving a smartphone in another room when eating, studying, or sleeping can strengthen focus and lower dependency on technology. Pick up other hobbies such as reading, exercising, or arts and crafts!
  • Start Small
    Minimal changes can lead to better, more consistent habits. It is recommended to gradually limit screen time, even for a few minutes, instead of making major changes quickly. This can lower stress levels over time.

Thank You!

This presentation was prepared as a final project for CIS-3755-001 at Temple University, in the Spring 2026 semester.

Works Cited

Joshi, Jay. "Sleep, Screen Time and Stress Analysis." Kaggle, 11 Mar. 2026, www.kaggle.com/datasets/jayjoshi37/sleep-screen-time-and-stress-analysis.

Smith, Anna. "Screen Time, Sleep Debt and the Silent Stress of College Wellness." Daily Emerald, 5 Dec. 2025, dailyemerald.com/172928/promotedposts/screen-time-sleep-debt-and-the-silent-stress-of-college-wellness/.

Swanson, Joseph. "5 on Your Side: Screen Time Addictions." KSTP.Com 5 Eyewitness News, 27 Apr. 2026, kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/5-on-your-side-screen-time-addictions/.

Additional Resources

Process Book
Screencast parts 1 and 2: