Sleep Tracking Apps Could Heighten Anxiety for Insomnia Sufferers
Smartphone applications designed to monitor and improve sleep quality may inadvertently increase stress and worry for individuals struggling with insomnia, according to new research. While millions now use these digital tools to gain insights into their sleep patterns, experts caution that the data they provide can sometimes be inaccurate and trigger unnecessary anxiety.
Widespread Adoption of Sleep Monitoring Technology
The study, published in the journal Frontiers In Psychology, notes that the use of health apps "has increased significantly" in recent years. These applications typically rely on sensors embedded in wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness bands to track when users go to sleep, how long they sleep, and in some cases, the quality of their rest, often presenting a "sleep score."
Researchers from Norway explained that this technological progress has coincided with growing public interest in sleep health, with most health apps now incorporating sleep monitoring as part of their daily tracking features.
Study Reveals Mixed Effects Across Age Groups
For their investigation, the research team recruited 1,002 participants—508 men and 494 women—with an average age of 50. Among them, 461 individuals reported currently using or having previously used a sleep app, primarily through smartwatches (411 users) followed by mobile applications (65 users). Usage was more common among women than men.
Over half (approximately 57%) of participants aged 18 to 50 used sleep apps, a significantly higher rate than among older age groups. When asked about their experiences, positive effects were reported more frequently than negative ones.
Specifically, 15% of respondents said the apps improved their sleep, while only 2.3% reported worse sleep. The most common benefit was learning more about one's sleep patterns, cited by 48% of people. However, the most common negative effect was worrying more about sleep, experienced by 17% of users.
Younger Users More Strongly Affected
The researchers found that younger users appeared more strongly affected by sleep app use, both positively and negatively, compared to older adults. Participants in the 18–35 and 36–50 age groups were more likely to report beneficial effects like "improved sleep" and "prioritising sleep," while those aged 66 and above were less likely to report such advantages.
"Younger adults have a greater tendency to use electronic media in bed, which suggests that younger age groups may have more potential to improve their sleep habits, and thus report greater perceived effects from sleep apps," the study authors wrote.
However, the two youngest age groups also reported higher levels of stress and concern, including "increased sleep-related stress" and "developed concerns about my sleep." This indicates they may be more susceptible to the negative effects of digital health information.
Insomnia Sufferers Particularly Vulnerable
The research further revealed that people with insomnia reported more negative effects from using sleep apps. Individuals with insomnia seemed to be more prone to negative thoughts and worries about sleep, more often agreeing with statements like "something wrong with my sleep" and "more worried about my sleep."
The researchers suggested several possible reasons for this heightened vulnerability. People with insomnia often exhibit excessive cognitive activity and attentional biases, such as heightened focus on sleep-related threats and negative expectations about sleep interventions. They may also hold dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and struggle to disengage from sleep-related concerns.
"As a result, sleep app use may serve as a potential contributor to increased sleep-related stress and worry," the team concluded.
Expert Recommendations for App Users
Researcher Karl Lundekvam from the University of Bergen advised: "We would urge people who get more stressed by using sleep apps to learn more about which measures they use and how accurate they are. If this does not calm your worries, you should consider taking off your sleep app device during the night-time or turning off notifications."
He continued: "We encourage sleep app users to use the feedback as motivation to create helpful sleeping habits. For instance, minimise screen time before bedtime."
Hakon Berge, also of the University of Bergen, added: "We would also encourage people to listen to their body and go to bed when you actually feel tired. The bed and the bedroom should be associated with sleep, and going to bed before your body is ready to sleep will cause you to lie awake in bed, and this may exacerbate your sleep problems further."
"It is more beneficial to go to bed when your need for sleep actually requires it," Berge concluded, emphasising the importance of aligning bedtime with genuine tiredness rather than arbitrary schedules or app recommendations.
