Screen time, social jetlag, future hope, and ADHD symptoms in university students

Mar 13, 2026Chronobiology international

Screen Time, Sleep Schedule Shifts, Future Optimism, and ADHD Symptoms in University Students

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Abstract

A sample of 321 university students showed that greater social jetlag (SJL) is associated with higher ADHD symptoms.

Higher ADHD symptoms were correlated with increased screen time on both workdays and free days.
Longer pre-sleep screen time was linked to greater ADHD symptoms.
SJL was positively associated with ADHD symptoms and inversely related to future hope and mood.
Each 1-hour increase in SJL was associated with a 1.10-point increase in ADHD symptoms.
Lower self-reported sleep need, future hope, and mood were associated with higher ADHD symptoms.
SJL partially mediated the relationship between pre-sleep screen time on free days and ADHD symptoms.

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This cross-sectional study examined associations between social jetlag (SJL), screen exposure, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in university students. A sample of 321 young adults (mean age = 20.9 years, SD = 2.3; 257 females) was surveyed to assess various behavioral and psychological variables. Measures included total screen time on both workdays (school days) and free days, pre-sleep screen time, SJL as determined by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, symptoms of ADHD using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1), as well as mood and future hope. Spearman correlations showed ASRS scores were modestly associated with greater screen time (workday = 0.154, = 0.006; free day = 0.218, = 0.001), longer pre-sleep use (workday = 0.139, = 0.012; free day = 0.164, = 0.003), and greater SJL ( = 0.176, = 0.002), and inversely related to future hope ( = -0.247, = 0.001) and mood ( = -0.219, = 0.001). In adjusted regressions, free day screen time (B = 0.68, = 0.032) and SJL (B = 1.10, = 0.054) were associated with higher ASRS; each 1-h increase in SJL corresponded to a 1.10-point increase (95% CI: -0.01 to 2.22). Greater self-reported sleep need (B = -0.87, = 0.023), future hope (B = -0.66, = 0.029), and mood (B = -0.87, = 0.010) were associated with lower ASRS. Mediation analysis indicated that SJL partially mediated the association between free days pre-sleep screen time and ADHD symptoms (unstandardized indirect effect = 0.26, 95% CI 0.02-0.61). Findings suggest that heavier daily screen exposure and circadian misalignment are associated with greater ADHD-like symptoms and reduced future hope in emerging adults, underscoring potential benefits of regular sleep timing and moderated screen use. r p r p r p r p r p r p r p p p p p p

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Screen time, social jetlag, future hope, and ADHD symptoms in university students

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