Some teens and adults are so connected with their smartphones they answer the buzz in their sleep and don‘t know they’re “sleep texting,” a U.S. expert says.

Elizabeth Dowdell, a nursing professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, said her research involves Internet safety and many have told her about texts other people tell them they made but don‘t remember making.

“Many parents tell me, ’My child is so connected they never leave their cellphone and they have it on their nightstand and they answer it and then they find out later they texted,‘” Dowdell told United Press International.

“The cellphone buzzes and the teen picks it up as a reflex -- and in a transitional sleep state not quite asleep but not quite awake -- answers in a text and hits send and it isn’t until the next day they someone will tell them about the text.”

The answer can be gibberish, or it can start out OK but then turn into something nonsensical, and when they get to class the next someone will tell “You sent a crazy message last night,” Dowdell said.

“It can be silly and embarrassing, but it can turn into bullying, too,” Dowdell said. “But outside of the Internet issues, answering the phone during the night can result in fractured sleep which doesn‘t lead to the restorative sleep everyone needs.”

Most children and teens don’t get enough sleep -- teens should get 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep a night and most don‘t get nearly that much, Dowdell said.

“When teens don’t get enough sleep they become cranky, grumpy, they fall asleep in school and soon it is affecting their school work and their relationships,” Dowdell said.

“I suggest everyone in the family place a docking station in the kitchen or family room -- outside of the bedroom -- at 10 p.m. so everyone can get restorative sleep and to show children that the phone can be turned off some of the time.”

Some teens insist they need their phone because they use it as an alarm clock, but parents can insist their child place the cellphone across the room so they have to get up to answer it and that will wake them up -- or get them an alarm clock, Dowdell suggested. (UPI)



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핸드폰 중독자들, 자는 중에도...

미국 연구진이 일부 10대 혹은 성인들이 스마트폰에 중독되어 자면서도 메시지를 보내는 습관이 있다고 전했다.

빌라노바대학교(Villanova University) 간호학 교수인 엘리자베스 도우델(Elizabeth Dowdell)은 사람들이 수면 중 등에 있어 메시지를 보내고 본인이 기억하지 못하는 경우가 많다고 밝혔다.

"많은 부모들이 자신의 아이가 하루 종일 핸드폰에서 떨어질 줄을 모른다고들 말합니다. 잘 때도 옆에 두고 문자 오는 소리가 들리면 바로 답장을 한다고 하더군요."라고 도우델이 말했다.

"핸드폰 진동이 울리면 반사적으로 핸드폰을 집어 들어요. 완전히 자는 것도, 깨어있는 것도 아닌 상태에서요. 바로 답장을 쓰고 전송 버튼을 누르죠. 그러고는 다음 날 학교에 가서 ’너 어제 정말 이상한 메시지를 보냈더라.’라는 말을 듣곤 합니다. 놀림의 대상이 되는 거죠. 이건 단순히 핸드폰 중독 문제를 넘어서서 수면을 방해하고 건강에 악영향을 끼칩니다." 라고 연구진이 전했다. (코리아헤럴드)