From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-561611-879889
SEATTLE (UPI) -- People who say they are addicted to playing video
games sleep less but generally don't recognize their pastime could be
responsible, U.S. researchers found.
Amanda Woolems of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock says
previous research had shown excessive gamers spend less time in bed,
have longer sleep latency and shorter REM latency.
"Our statistics revealed that those who admitted addiction scored
higher on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale -- sleepiness," Woolems said in
a statement. "It surprised us, however, that of the people who
admitted being addicted to gaming, only about a third of them
recognized an interference with their sleep."
The study examined data from 137 university students -- mostly women
-- who had a mean age of 22. Gamers were classified as casual or
excessive -- those who spend more than seven hours a week using the
Internet and playing computer games.
Of the total sample, 10.81 percent reported that gaming interfered
with their sleep and 12.6 percent identified themselves as being
addicted to gaming.
The researchers said gamers who reported their playing interfered with
sleep slept for 1.6 hours less than other gamers on weekdays. Those
who claimed to be addicted to gaming slept one hour less.
The findings were presented at Sleep, the 23rd annual meeting of the
Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle.