THE MEDIATING ROLE OF INSOMNIA IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCREEN TIME AND SLEEP QUALITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Excessive screen time has become a growing public health concern due to its negative effects on sleep health and psychological well-being among young adults. Prolonged use of digital devices, particularly before bedtime, has been associated with insomnia symptoms and poor sleep quality. However, limited research has examined the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship. The present study investigates the mediating role of insomnia in the relationship between screen time and sleep quality from the perspectives of community psychology and rehabilitation psychology. A quantitative cross-sectional design is proposed involving young adults aged 18–30 years. Screen time will be assessed using a self-reported screen usage questionnaire, insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Mediation analysis will be performed using Hayes' PROCESS Macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. It is hypothesized that greater screen time will be associated with increased insomnia symptoms and poorer sleep quality, with insomnia significantly mediating this relationship. The findings are expected to contribute to the understanding of digital health behaviours and provide evidence for community-based health promotion and rehabilitation interventions aimed at improving sleep hygiene, reducing excessive screen use, and enhancing psychosocial well-being and quality of life among young adults.