Comparative Analysis of Screen Time, Sleep Disorders and Physical Performance in Individuals with and without Learning Disabilities

OpenAlex Türkçe

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between screen time, sleep disorder prevalence, and physical performance in individuals with and without a diagnosis of learning disabilities (LD, Non-LD). The study included 28 sedentary individuals (LD: 14, Non-LD: 14) aged 10-14 years with intermediate or evening chronotypes, selected using stratified sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information form, the Childhood Chronotype Questionnaire (CQC), the Sleep Disorder Scale for Children (SDSC), and the Illinois Agility Test. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation analysis. The Illinois Agility Test performance of the LD group was significantly lower than that of the Non-LD group (p.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between screen time, SDSC score, and agility performance in either group (p>.05). The findings suggest that the low physical performance observed in individuals diagnosed with LD may stem from fundamental difficulties associated with LD, such as motor coordination and planning, rather than screen time or sleep disturbance. High screen time and compromised sleep quality in both groups point to a general public health concern. However, larger studies controlling for physical activity levels are needed to better understand the relationship between these variables and physical performance.