A new study reveals the leading barrier to good sleep for Gen Z, surpassing traditional stressors.
Key takeaways:
- Scrolling social media ranked as the highest sleep disruptor (29.5%) among young adults, ahead of stress and overthinking (19.4%), according to a survey by Lifesum.
- Nearly 60% of Gen Z engage in simultaneous scrolling and eating in the evening, a habit impacting overall sleep quality.
- Caffeine was identified by 33.1% of respondents as the biggest dietary sleep factor, while 47.7% reported that sleeping with pets disrupts their rest.
A new study from healthy eating app Lifesum indicates that late-night digital routines have surpassed stress as the primary barrier to sleep for young adults.
When asked which behaviors most disrupt their sleep, scrolling TikTok ranked highest at 29.5%, ahead of stress and overthinking at 19.4%. Almost half (47.9%) of Gen Z and millennials report scrolling TikTok or other social media in bed every night, with an additional 17.6% doing so several nights per week.
The research shows that nearly two-thirds (60.1%) of Gen Z eat while using the platform in the evening. Researchers have termed this simultaneous scrolling and eating behavior “TikTok snacking,” noting its direct impact on sleep quality. Snack choices among this demographic were evenly split between sweet (28.8%) and savory (28.9%) foods, suggesting the evening habit is driven more by comfort than nutritional needs.
“Sleep no longer offers a break from the day. Instead, increasing numbers of young adults are affected by modern life, shaped by screens, stress and constant stimulation. Small behavioral changes—particularly reducing late-night screen use and being mindful of nutrition—can improve sleep quality,” says Victoria Strandlund, nutritionist at Lifesum, in a release.
Beyond screens and evening eating, the study identified several other common sleep barriers. Caffeine was cited by 33.1% of respondents as the biggest sleep factor, ranking ahead of alcohol, sugary foods, and heavy meals. Additionally, more than a quarter (25.3%) of respondents consume alcohol within three hours of bedtime almost every night, while 35.7% do so two to three nights per week.
Environmental and emotional factors also play a significant role in sleep disruption. Almost half (47.7%) of respondents noted that sleeping with pets disrupts their sleep. More than half reported that stress, overthinking, or arguments regularly interfere with their rest, with 14.2% experiencing this almost every night.
Highlighting the connection between sleep, mindfulness, and nutrition, Lifesum recently partnered with mental health company Calm to explore how their combined insights can create connected health experiences for users.
ID 74427308© Anastasia Aleksandrenko | Dreamstime.com
