Draft:Sleep app
Sleep app is a type of mobile application that helps users track, analyze, and improve their sleep. These apps commonly use smartphone sensors or integrate with wearable devices to monitor sleep behavior, provide personalized feedback, and offer features aimed at enhancing sleep hygiene.
Features
Sleep apps vary in functionality, but most include some or all of the following features:
- Sleep tracking – Monitoring of sleep duration, sleep cycles (light, deep, REM), and movement using accelerometers or microphones, or via connection with wearable devices.
- Smart alarms – Alarms that aim to wake the user during a light sleep phase to reduce morning grogginess.
- Relaxation aids – Soothing music, guided meditation, white noise, or breathing exercises to help users fall asleep.
- Sleep diaries – Manual or automatic logs of sleep patterns and behaviors for self-monitoring and behavioral adjustments.
- Sleep coaching and education – Advice on improving sleep quality based on tracked data and principles of sleep hygiene.
- Integration with wearables – Compatibility with smartwatches and fitness trackers for more detailed physiological data.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of sleep apps has been the subject of academic scrutiny. A meta-analysis published in 2024 found that app-based interventions produced moderate improvements in sleep disturbances and insomnia symptoms compared to control groups.[1]
Another study of commercially available apps found that many lack empirical validation and often do not incorporate evidence-based behavior change techniques.[2]
Limitations and concerns
Despite their popularity, sleep apps have limitations:
- Lack of clinical validation – Many apps are not validated through scientific research and may provide inaccurate data.[3]
- Data privacy – Studies have shown that some sleep apps share personal data with third parties, sometimes without user consent.[4]
- Over-reliance and anxiety – Over-dependence on sleep data may contribute to "orthosomnia", where concern over sleep metrics causes additional sleep disturbance.[5]
- Clinical integration challenges – Healthcare providers may be hesitant to rely on or interpret data from consumer-grade applications.[6]
Notable examples
Several sleep apps have received academic attention or industry awards:
- Sleepio – A digital CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) program, Sleepio is one of the few sleep apps with substantial clinical validation.[7]
- Loóna – An app combining storytelling, soundscapes, and visuals to help users relax before bed. It was awarded Google Play's "Best App" in 2020 and an Apple Design Award in 2021.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Choi, Young; Lee, Min Ji (2024). "Effectiveness of Smartphone Applications for Sleep: A Meta-Analysis". Sleep Medicine Reviews. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101876. PMID 39213858.
- ^ Ko, Na-Eun; Lim, Hyeyoung (2023). "Evaluation of Sleep Mobile Health Applications Using the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy". Journal of Medical Internet Research. doi:10.2196/45329. PMID 36628485.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Becker, Spencer P. (2021). "Sleep Tracking Technology: A Review of Consumer Sleep Apps". Current Sleep Medicine Reports. doi:10.1007/s40675-021-00213-1. PMID 34104344.
- ^ Papageorgiou, Apostolos (2021). "Privacy Risks of mHealth Apps: A Systematic Analysis". JMIR mHealth and uHealth. doi:10.2196/27841. PMC 8157780.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Baron, Kelly G. (2017). "Orthosomnia: Are Some Patients Taking the Quantified Self Too Far?". Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 13 (2): 351–354. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6472.
- ^ Cheng, Penelope (2022). "Integration of Consumer Sleep Data in Clinical Practice: Challenges and Opportunities". Sleep Health. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2022.05.001.
- ^ "Sleepio Clinical Evidence". Sleepio.
- ^ "Loóna". Loóna.