On June 10, a study led by Li Jianying’s team at Shanxi University published in PLOS One conducted a cross-sectional survey of 5,713 adolescents aged 13 to 18 across six cities: Shanghai, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Wuyuan, Xingyi, and Urumqi. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while BMI, physical fitness, sedentary time, screen time, and mental health data were also collected. Results showed that 33.71% of respondents had poor sleep quality; mental health scores were the strongest protective factor, while higher BMI, longer sedentary time, and more screen time were each significantly associated with poorer sleep quality. Urban-rural differences and gender differences were also prominent: a higher proportion of rural adolescents (35.78%) had poor sleep quality compared to urban adolescents (31.90%), and the proportion of girls with poor sleep quality (38.40%) was higher than that of boys (29.20%); the negative effect of BMI on sleep was more pronounced in girls, while the protective effect of good mental health was more significant in rural adolescents.
The research team noted that the study’s cross-sectional design precludes establishing causal relationships, and both sleep quality and behavioral indicators relied on self-reporting, introducing certain biases. The Chinese government has already designated sleep quality as a priority indicator in the Healthy China 2030 plan and has set 2025 to 2027 as priority years for children’s mental health services. The study concludes that improving screen time management, BMI, and mental health may be key entry points for enhancing overall adolescent sleep quality, with particular attention needed for rural areas and female students.