The Impact of Blue Light Exposure on Behavioral and Physiological Determinants of Health in Children and Adolescents
The digitalization of society has fundamentally altered the lifestyle of children and adolescents. Smartphones, tablets, computers, and social networks have become an integral part of education, communication, and leisure time. The increasing availability of digital technologies leads to a significant increase in time spent in front of screens, with a substantial portion of digital device use occurring in the evening hours. This trend represents a new behavioral-environmental factor that can negatively affect the health and development of children and adolescents. Blue light emitted by LED screens of digital devices is mainly associated with disruption of circadian rhythms, deterioration of sleep quality, and negative impact on the mental and physiological health of the young organism (Guindon et al., 2024).
Blue light constitutes a part of the visible electromagnetic spectrum with a wavelength of approximately 400–490 nm and physiologically plays a significant role in regulating the organism's biological rhythms. Under natural conditions, it serves as a major stimulus that synchronizes circadian rhythms with daylight, supports alertness, and neurobehavioral activity. However, chronic evening exposure to digital devices becomes problematic, leading to melatonin suppression, delayed onset of sleep, and disruption of the sleep‑wake cycle. In children and adolescents, this phenomenon can have more pronounced effects due to ongoing neurodevelopment and higher sensitivity of the circadian system to light stimuli (Alam et al., 2024).
Current scientific evidence indicates that chronic exposure to blue light can negatively affect sleep quality, mental health, cognitive performance, and behavioral habits of children and adolescents. A significant problem is also the emergence of circadian disruption, i.e., the disturbance of synchronization of the organism's biological rhythms, which can lead to daytime fatigue, emotional dysregulation, concentration disorders, and metabolic changes. From a public health perspective, blue light represents a major determinant of the health of the digital generation and a current challenge for preventive medicine. The aim of this contribution is to analyze current scientific knowledge on the impact of blue light exposure on the behavioral and physiological determinants of health in children and adolescents from a public health standpoint.
Neurophysiological mechanisms of blue light effect
The biological effects of blue light involve complex neurophysiological mechanisms that ensure synchronization of the organism with the external light environment. Blue light influences the organism's biological rhythms through specialized neural structures and regulatory mechanisms that play a significant role in regulating sleep, hormonal secretion, and neurobehavioral functions.
A key role in this process is played by intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), specialized retinal cells containing the photopigment melanopsin. This pigment exhibits the highest sensitivity to the short‑wavelength spectrum of light around 460–480 nm and mediates the biological effects of light independent of visual perception itself (Pan et al., 2023).
Upon activation of ipRGCs, light signals are transmitted via the retinohypothalamic tract to the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN), which serves as the main regulator of the organism's circadian rhythms. The suprachiasmatic nucleus then synchronizes biological processes including the sleep‑wake cycle, hormonal regulation, body temperature, metabolism, and neurobehavioral functions. Light thus represents the most important external synchronizing factor of human biological rhythms (Spitschan et al., 2023).
A significant component of circadian regulation is the production of melatonin in the pineal gland. Evening exposure to blue light leads to suppression of melatonin secretion, resulting in delayed onset of sleep, phase shift of circadian rhythms, and disruption of synchronization of the organism's biological rhythms. The intensity of blue light's effect depends on several factors, including illumination intensity, duration of exposure, spectral composition of light, and timing of exposure relative to the organism's circadian phase (Ricketts et al., 2022).
In childhood and adolescence, the circadian system is more sensitive to light stimuli compared to the adult population. Developmental changes in the neuroendocrine system during puberty lead to a physiological shift of chronotype toward evening activity, which can increase adolescents' vulnerability to the negative effects of evening blue light exposure. At the same time, this period involves intensive neurodevelopment of brain structures involved in regulating emotions, behavior, and cognitive functions, while chronic sleep deprivation can negatively affect the maturation of the central nervous system (LeBourgeois et al., 2023).
Greater transparency of ocular structures in childhood allows more intense penetration of short‑wavelength light into the retina, which can lead to greater melatonin suppression compared to the adult population. Chronic evening exposure to digital devices can therefore negatively affect biological rhythms, sleep quality, and neurobehavioral regulation of the young organism (Ricketts et al., 2022).
Current research indicates that disruption of circadian rhythms can significantly affect the autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine regulation, and an individual's mental health. Chronic desynchronization of biological rhythms, referred to as circadian disruption, is associated with increased oxidative stress, dysregulation of inflammatory processes, emotional dysregulation, and impaired cognitive performance. This is a significant problem, especially in the adolescent population, where a physiological shift of chronotype toward evening activity occurs (Blazhkova et al., 2025).
Impact of blue light on sleep and circadian rhythms
Sleep represents a fundamental biological process essential for optimal physical, psychological, and neurocognitive development of children and adolescents. During childhood and adolescence, it plays a crucial role in organismal regeneration, memory regulation, emotions, and proper functioning of neuroendocrine mechanisms. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in exposure to blue light emitted by digital devices, which represents a potential risk factor negatively affecting sleep quality and circadian regulation of the organism (Alam et al., 2024).
Evening exposure to blue light leads to melatonin suppression, delayed onset of sleep, and phase shift of circadian rhythms. The consequence may be a reduction in total sleep time, deterioration of its quality, and disruption of the sleep‑wake cycle. In adolescents, puberty brings a physiological shift of chronotype toward evening activity, and excessive use of digital devices in the evening can further deepen this phenomenon (Bryk et al., 2022).
A significant problem in the adolescent population is the emergence of the so‑called social jet lag, characterized by a mismatch between the organism's biological rhythms and social demands, especially the early start of school instruction. Chronic desynchronization of circadian rhythms can lead to cumulative sleep deprivation, daytime fatigue, concentration disorders, and poorer academic performance. Long‑term sleep deficit is also associated with increased prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and reduced psychological well‑being of adolescents (Neitz et al., 2024).
Current research also points to the importance of behavioral hyperstimulation of the central nervous system caused by the use of social networks, gaming, and digital interactivity in the evening hours. The combination of biological stimulation by blue light and psychological activation by digital content can synergistically negatively affect the architecture of sleep, the quality of organismal regeneration, and the neurobehavioral functions of a young individual (Wong et al., 2022).
In children and adolescents, good sleep is a significant determinant of health and proper development of the organism. Chronic sleep deprivation can negatively affect attention, working memory, learning ability, metabolic processes, and mental health. Some studies also point to a possible association between disruption of circadian rhythms, increased risk of metabolic dysregulation, and the development of obesity in the pediatric population. From a public health perspective, therefore, the issue of blue light represents a significant challenge in the area of prevention and support of healthy behavioral habits in the pediatric population. Preventive strategies should include support for sleep hygiene, regulation of evening exposure to digital devices, education of parents, and promotion of healthy use of digital technologies among children and adolescents (Silva et al., 2026).
**Behavioral and psychological consequences of blue light exposure **
Chronic exposure to blue light can significantly affect the behavioral and psychological health of children and adolescents. During childhood and adolescence, intensive neuropsychological development occurs, and insufficient sleep and disruption of circadian rhythms can negatively affect emotional regulation, behavior, and the psychological well‑being of a young individual. Excessive use of digital devices in the evening hours is associated with increased prevalence of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptomatology, and poorer quality of life among adolescents.
Disruption of the sleep‑wake cycle can also negatively affect attention, working memory, learning ability, and academic performance. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with increased daytime fatigue, reduced concentration, and emotional dysregulation. Behavioral hyperstimulation of the central nervous system caused by the use of social networks, gaming, and digital interactivity in the evening hours also plays a significant role.
In the adolescent population, there is also discussion about problematic use of digital technologies, which can lead to the development of maladaptive behavioral habits and deterioration of sleep hygiene. Excessive screen time is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, reduced physical activity, and limited social interactions in real life. From a public health perspective, therefore, the issue of blue light and digital behavior represents a significant determinant of the psychological and behavioral health of children and adolescents (Merín et al., 2024).
**Physiological consequences of blue light exposure **
Chronic exposure to blue light can negatively affect several physiological processes of the organism in children and adolescents. Disruption of circadian rhythms caused by evening use of digital devices influences hormonal regulation, metabolic processes, the autonomic nervous system, and the organism's energetic homeostasis. During childhood and adolescence, chronic desynchronization of biological rhythms can have a more pronounced impact due to ongoing growth and neuroendocrine development of the organism.
One of the most significant physiological consequences of blue light exposure is melatonin suppression. Melatonin plays an important role not only in sleep regulation but also in immunomodulatory processes, antioxidant protection of the organism, and metabolic regulation. Chronic disruption of melatonin regulation can secondarily affect the production of other hormones, including cortisol and growth hormone. Sleep disorders and chronic sleep deprivation are also associated with an increased risk of metabolic dysregulation, including insulin resistance, changes in energy metabolism, and increased risk of obesity in the pediatric population. Lack of sleep can influence appetite regulation through changes in leptin and ghrelin levels, which can lead to increased energy intake and disruption of the organism's metabolic balance (Eto et al., 2023).
Current research also points to a possible association between circadian disruption and increased oxidative stress, dysregulation of inflammatory processes, and impaired autonomic regulation of the organism. Long‑term disruption of circadian rhythms can negatively affect the physical as well as mental health of adolescents and represents a significant risk factor in the context of preventive medicine and public health (Werner et al., 2025).
A significant problem associated with excessive use of digital devices is digital eye strain, which can manifest as dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and eye fatigue. In recent years, there has also been discussion about a possible association between prolonged time spent in front of screens and the progression of myopia in children and adolescents. The issue of blue light therefore represents a significant challenge not only for psychological and behavioral health but also for the physiological health of the young organism (Gregoire et al., 2023).
**Circadian disruption as a public health problem **
Circadian disruption represents a disturbance of the synchronization of the organism's biological rhythms due to external environmental and behavioral factors. In the conditions of the digital society, one of the most important factors of circadian disruption is excessive evening exposure to blue light emitted by digital devices. Children and adolescents constitute a particularly vulnerable group due to the high level of use of digital technologies and ongoing neuroendocrine development of the organism.
Chronic desynchronization of circadian rhythms can negatively affect the physical, mental, and behavioral health of a young individual. Disruption of biological rhythms is associated with poorer sleep quality, daytime fatigue, emotional dysregulation, concentration disorders, and increased risk of mental disorders. A significant problem is also the emergence of the so‑called social jet lag, characterized by a mismatch between the organism's biological rhythms and social demands, especially the early start of school instruction.
In recent years, the issue of chronodisruption is coming to the forefront of public health and preventive medicine interest. The increasing digitization of everyday life leads to changes in the behavioral habits of children and adolescents, with a significant portion of free time associated with the use of digital devices in the evening hours. Chronic evening exposure to blue light thus represents a new behaviorally‑environmental determinant of the health of the digital generation.
From the perspective of public health, it is essential to implement preventive strategies aimed at supporting the circadian health of children and adolescents. A significant role is played by educating parents, schools, and healthcare workers about the biological importance of sleep, regulation of screen time, and support of healthy behavioral habits. Preventive measures should particularly include limiting the use of digital devices in the evening hours, supporting sleep hygiene, and creating a healthy digital environment for children and adolescents. Supporting a healthy circadian rhythm and proper sleep hygiene can also serve as a significant preventive tool in the area of supporting the mental health of children and adolescents (Moyano et al., 2022).
Preventive measures and recommendations
The issue of blue light exposure in children and adolescents requires the implementation of preventive measures aimed at supporting healthy behavioral habits and protecting circadian health. Given the increasing digitization of everyday life, it is necessary to pay greater attention to regulating the use of digital devices, especially in the evening hours, when the body is physiologically prepared to transition into sleep and regeneration. A significant role in prevention is played by supporting sleep hygiene in children and adolescents. It is recommended to limit the use of digital devices at least 1–2 hours before bedtime, reduce the intensity of lighting in the evening hours, and support a regular sleep schedule. It is also recommended to use blue‑light‑reducing modes on digital devices, although their effect on circadian health is not entirely clear according to current research. An important part of preventive strategies is also educating parents, schools, and healthcare workers about the biological importance of sleep and the possible consequences of excessive evening exposure to digital devices. Pediatricians, public health experts, and schools can play a significant role in supporting healthy digital habits and preventing chronic sleep deprivation in children and adolescents. From the perspective of public health, it is necessary to support preventive programs focused on digital health, sleep hygiene, and regulation of screen time in the child and adolescent population. Early prevention can help minimize the negative behavioral and physiological consequences of chronic blue light exposure and support healthy development of the young organism (Hameed et al., 2025).
Discussion
The issue of blue light exposure currently represents a significant interdisciplinary topic linking knowledge from public health, chronobiology, pediatrics, neuroscience, and behavioral sciences. Several scientific studies conducted in children and adolescents point to an association between excessive use of digital devices and negative consequences for sleep, mental health, cognitive performance, and behavioral habits of the young individual. Silvani et al. (2022) analyzed in a systematic review the effect of blue light on sleep, alertness, and cognitive performance. The authors state that more than two‑thirds of the analyzed studies confirmed a negative effect of evening blue light exposure on sleep quality and the circadian regulation of the organism. Simultaneously, increased alertness and delayed onset of sleep after evening use of digital devices were observed (Silvani et al., 2022).
Significant findings were also brought by the study Alam et al. (2024), which examined the effect of blue light exposure from electronic devices on adolescents and young adults. The results highlighted an association between evening smartphone use and poorer sleep quality, daytime fatigue, concentration disorders, and reduced neurobehavioral performance. The authors also emphasize the importance of melatonin suppression and disruption of circadian rhythms in the adolescent population (Alam et al., 2024).
Yu et al. (2024) in their study analyzed the relationships between social media use, sleep, and mental health of adolescents. The results indicated that excessive use of social media is associated with poorer sleep quality, higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptomatology in young people. The authors also point out the importance of behavioral hyperstimulation of the central nervous system caused by digital interactivity in the evening hours (Yu et al., 2024).
Deprato et al. (2025) conducted a meta‑analysis focused on the association between nighttime light exposure and mental health. The results point to a possible relationship between chronic nighttime light exposure, disruption of circadian rhythms, and increased risk of depressive and affective disorders. The authors also highlight the need for further research focused on the adolescent population (Deprato et al., 2025).
The significance of the issue of insufficient sleep among adolescents is also confirmed by population research conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health published in 2026. The research analyzed data from more than 400,000 adolescents and highlighted a long‑term decline in sleep duration among the adolescent population. The authors identified increasing screen time, social networks, and evening use of digital devices as significant risk factors.
Despite the growing number of studies, there are several methodological limitations in current research. Many studies use subjective self‑assessment questionnaires and lack longitudinal studies tracking the long‑term effects of chronic blue light exposure in the pediatric population. Standardization of methods for measuring screen time, light intensity exposure, and sleep quality assessment remains problematic (Widome et al., 2026).
From the perspective of public health, blue light represents a significant behaviorally‑environmental determinant of the health of the digital generation. Given the increasing use of digital devices among children and adolescents, it is necessary to pay greater attention to preventive strategies, support of sleep hygiene, and education about healthy use of digital technologies. It is also essential to conduct further interdisciplinary research focused on the long‑term effects of chronic blue light exposure on the physical and mental health of children and adolescents.
Conclusion
Blue light exposure emitted by digital devices currently represents a significant behaviorally‑environmental factor influencing the health of children and adolescents. The increasing digitalization of everyday life leads to an increase in time spent in front of screens, with a significant portion of digital device usage occurring in the evening hours. Current scientific evidence indicates that chronic evening exposure to blue light can negatively affect circadian rhythms, sleep quality, mental health, cognitive performance, and behavioral habits of young individuals.
A key mechanism of blue light’s effect is melatonin suppression and subsequent disruption of the synchronization of the body’s biological rhythms. In children and adolescents, circadian disruption may have more pronounced consequences due to ongoing neurodevelopment and increased sensitivity of the circadian system to light stimuli. The issue of blue light is also associated with broader physiological and psychological consequences, including emotional dysregulation, daytime fatigue, metabolic changes, and reduced psychological well‑being (Ricketts et al., 2022; Alam et al., 2024).
From a public health perspective, blue light represents a significant challenge in the context of a digital society. Preventive measures should include promoting sleep hygiene, regulating evening exposure to digital devices, educating parents, and supporting healthy behavioral habits among children and adolescents. Simultaneously, further interdisciplinary research focusing on the long‑term effects of chronic blue light exposure on the health of the young population is needed (Alam et al., 2024).
***Authors: **
MSc. Simona Miškárová
Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine UPJŠ, Košice*
prof. Dr. Kvetoslava Rimárová CSc.,
Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine UPJŠ, Košice*
Dr. Martina Hrubovčák Tejová
Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine UPJŠ, Košice
Dr. Dana Kluková
Dermatovenereology Clinic ProCare KVP, Košice*
Acknowledgements
The work is supported by grants KEGA 003UPJŠ-4/2024 for the update and innovation of the Public Health study program in the area of prevention of chronic non‑communicable diseases and grant KEGA 0010UPJŠ-4/2024 for the implementation of multimedia technologies in the teaching of preventive interventions in medical and non‑medical disciplines.
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