Chapter I

INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Our future depends on our dreams a reason we need to sleep. This anecdotal
statement is actually true. Because teens and children who lacks sleep gives higher risk
on non-communicable diseases and mental health problems (www.cdc.gov/features/
students-sleep/index.html). Sleep is as vital as any of our basic needs for our health. It
makes our bodies to recover and our minds to strengthen information processing
(www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/sleep-report).
Students nowadays are more interactive due to the use of gadgets including
those in the seventh grade. Grade seven students are known as freshmen, and as
freshmen they will take time on adjusting to schools especially in science high schools
like here in the Western Philippines University. These students whose age ranges from
12-13 years old requires 9-11 hours of sleep, and without attaining this sleep duration
requirement these students could experience the consequences detailed before
(www.sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness). Many articles and studies concluded
that one of the greatest factors why students lack sleep is because of the use of
gadgets. If these students are not aware of their gadget usage they could experience a
hard time on studying.
Gadgets are great equipment that makes work easy. It can be utilized in a wide
variation of uses such as increase our efficiency, entertains, saves space, and
encourages innovation and creativity (www.bkwebdesigns.com/gadgets-importance-
life). However, it is proven in many studies that excessive use of gadgets causes many
to lose concentration due to lack of sleep especially students in elementary and high
school. Gadget misuse is defined as the usage of gadget that affects the person in a
deficient way like the person’s time, sleep and performance.
In this study, the researchers made an investigation on the effect of gadgets
misuse on the sleep duration of Western Philippines University – Agricultural Science
High School grade seven students. This study also aims to know the number of
students misusing their gadgets, making them aware of their actions and the
consequences they may face.