65% of adult Americans sleep with their mobiles phones switched on or close within reach, according to a survey by Pew Research Center. Younger age groups (18-29) are more likely to keep their phones close while sleeping than older age groups.
In fact the survey shows that as the age groups increase, the percentage of people sleeping with their mobile phones switched on or close by decrease. Adults who are aged 65 and keep their mobile phones close by while sleeping number only 34% compared to the age group of 18-29 where the percentage is as high as 90.
Adults in the age group 30-49 who sleep with their mobile phones form a sizeable 70% of the population. Those in the age group 50-64 who partake of the same behaviour form 50% of the population. Parents with children under 18 keeping their phones on or close by while sleeping are higher than those without children.
There seems to be a connection between parental status and the handling and ownership of the mobile phones. Parents are also more likely to possess mobile phones than non-parents as it allows them to plan ahead and deal with boredom.
In terms of ethnicity 78% of black non-Hispanic people prefer to sleep with their phones compared to 75% of Hispanics and 62% of the non-Hispanic whites, the survey reports. There is not much difference between the two genders in terms of this behaviour. While 67% of the men sleep with their phones the percentage of women who keep their phones on or within reach is 65.
