Asian Journal of Research in Nursing and Health

Aims: This study aimed to determine the correlation between screen time duration and SCRAM (sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood) among student nurses in a private college institution during the Academic Year 2025–2026, second semester. Specifically, it sought to assess the extent of screen time in terms of weekday, weeknight, and weekend day, evaluate the level of sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood (SCRAM) in terms of good sleep, morningness, and depressed mood, and determine if a significant relationship exists between screen time and SCRAM.

Study Design:  This study utilized a descriptive-correlational research design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a private college institution in Iloilo City, Philippines, among nursing students. Data collection was carried out from January 15 to February 3, 2026, during the second semester of Academic Year 2025–2026.

Methodology: The study included 325 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students from first to fourth year, selected using stratified random sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were gathered using two adopted instruments: the Screen Time Questionnaire and the SCRAM Questionnaire (Byrne et al., 2017). The Screen Time Questionnaire measured the duration of screen exposure across weekday, weeknight, and weekend, including background use. The SCRAM questionnaire assessed sleep quality, circadian rhythm (morningness), and mood (depressed mood) using a 6-point Likert scale.

Data collection was conducted through online (Google Forms) after obtaining ethical clearance and institutional approval. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used, while Spearman’s rho was applied to determine the relationship between screen time and SCRAM variables due to non-normal data distribution

Results: The study involved 325 respondents. The overall mean daily screen time was 144.29 minutes, equivalent to approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. Screen time was highest during weekends (M = 165.69), followed by weekdays (M = 157.27) and lowest during weeknights (M = 110.02). Smartphones had the highest usage across all periods. For SCRAM, the overall mean score was 3.2, indicating a slight negative tendency in sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood. Subscale means were: Good Sleep (M = 3.43), Morningness (M = 3.49), and Depressed Mood (M = 2.89), suggesting inconsistent sleep patterns, irregular circadian rhythm, and mild mood disturbances. Inferential analysis using Spearman’s rho revealed weak to very weak correlations between screen time and SCRAM variables. Some relationships were statistically significant (p < 0.05), indicating that increased screen time is associated with less favorable sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood outcomes. Specifically, a weak correlation suggests that although a relation exists between the variables, the association is relatively small (P = .01), indicating that changes in the screen time have only a minor effect on variations in circadian rhythm, mood outcomes, and sleep quality among the respondents.

Conclusion: The study concludes that screen time is significantly associated with sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood (SCRAM) among student nurses, although the relationship is generally weak. Increased screen time, particularly during leisure periods such as weekends, may contribute to disruptions in sleep patterns, misalignment of circadian rhythm, and mood fluctuations. However, screen time alone does not fully explain SCRAM outcomes, and the timing of exposure plays an important role. These findings indicate the practical need for intervention that focuses on managing screen time, especially on weekends and before bedtime, along with incorporating sleep hygiene education for nursing students to support their overall well being. Further studies are recommended to validate these findings and explore additional contributing factors, such as academic workload, lifestyle habits, caffeine intake, and environmental influences that may also influence sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood.