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29 - IMPACTO DA EXPOSIÇÃO A TELAS NA SECREÇÃO DE MELATONINA E NA QUALIDADE DO SONO EM CRIANÇAS: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

Doi: 10.47094/XCESMED.2026/29

PALAVRAS CHAVE: Dispositivos Eletrônicos; Higiene do Sono; Pediatria; Ritmo Circadiano.

KEYWORDS: Electronic Devices; Sleep Hygiene; Pediatrics; Circadian Rhythm.

ABSTRACT:
INTRODUCTION: The widespread use of electronic devices among young people correlates with chronic sleep deficits. The pathophysiological mechanism involves melatonin suppression caused by short-wavelength blue light, which inhibits the pineal gland and alters circadian rhythms. Children exhibit greater biological vulnerability due to anatomical characteristics—such as larger pupils and more transparent lenses—that facilitate light penetration to the retina. In addition to hormonal disruption, stimulating content induces psychological alertness and delays sleep onset, resulting in increased sleep latency and fragmented sleep architecture. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact of electronic device exposure on melatonin secretion and sleep quality in children. METHODOLOGY: This is a systematic literature review guided by PRISMA guidelines, conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Search terms related to screen exposure, melatonin, and pediatric sleep were combined using Boolean operators ('AND', 'OR'). Of the 444 articles identified, 3 duplicates were removed using RStudio. After refining inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure methodological rigor, 22 of the 441 unique studies were selected for the final sample. RESULTS: Studies reveal that screen use before bedtime and daily usage exceeding two hours drastically reduce total sleep duration (p<0.05). The use of interactive devices during the pre-sleep period demonstrated more harmful effects—increasing latency and reducing sleep duration—compared to passive media. Light at 5000K (rich in the blue spectrum) suppresses melatonin significantly more than light at 2700K. Children show physiological responsiveness even at low light intensities (20 lux), such as those emitted by mobile screens. The presence of devices in the bedroom is the strongest predictor of sleep fragmentation and a reduction in N3 sleep—the stage associated with growth hormone (GH) release, the suppression of which negatively impacts child development and growth. Nighttime use has also been linked to daytime sleepiness, a decline in academic performance, and a higher incidence of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: Screen exposure contributes to the dysregulation of children's sleep through both biological and behavioral mechanisms, affecting circadian rhythms, development, and sleep quality. Given the increasing use of devices, it is essential to establish limits and routines that promote sleep hygiene from childhood, particularly through educational interventions for parents regarding the organization of the nighttime environment. Further studies are needed to gain a deeper understanding of the cumulative effects over the course of development.

Autores

  • Camille Andrade Bastos

  • Eline Louise Souza Oliveira

  • Helena Pyloridis Lustosa

  • Júlia Faria dos Santos Lamaro Frazão

  • Mariana da Silva Weber

  • Willian Ribeiro da Costa

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