Asociación del uso de tecnología digital con el bienestar y rendimiento académico entre niños y adolescentes: rol de la privación de sueño como mediador.

Introduction: In recent times there has been an increase in the use of technology among children and adolescents, which has led to greater concern about its impact on their cognitive development and socio-emotional skills. Objectives: i) To comprehensively explore the time of use of technology, the perception of risk of its use by students and the association between the frequency of use of technology and the levels of well-being and academic performance among children and adolescents in Chile, and ii) Evaluate the mediating role of sleep deprivation in these associations. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out before the Covid-19 Pandemic, in which 2,440 students (9-12 years old) from 13 schools located in Chile participated. A descriptive analysis, regression models were carried out to explore the associations with various risk factors, using life satisfaction and self-reported grade point average as dependent variables; and analysis of the direct and indirect effect (mediation) of sleep deprivation on these associations. Results: The longer the use of different digital devices, there was a reduction in well-being and academic performance. On the other hand, the effect of time spent using computers, cell phones and video games on well-being and academic performance was significantly mediated by sleep deprivation. Conclusions: The use of technology and its effects on sleep appear to be important in reducing the well-being and academic performance of adolescents.