Norwegian study warns sleep apps may worsen sleep quality for many

A new study from the University of Bergen suggests that popular sleep-tracking apps and smartwatches may be harming rather than improving sleep quality for many Norwegians, with nearly half of users reporting no benefits and younger adults experiencing increased stress.

The research, published by Dagbladet, surveyed over 1,000 Norwegian adults and found that while 46 percent had used sleep apps, only 15 percent felt their sleep had actually improved as a result. Instead, 18 percent reported increased worry about their sleep, and 14 percent believed the data made them think “something is wrong.”

Young adults between 18 and 35 were particularly affected, with 23 percent experiencing heightened stress from monitoring sleep scores—compared to just 2.4 percent of those over 66. “The youngest participants reported more problems but also more positive effects overall. They were generally more influenced by the technology than older users,” said Ståle Pallesen, a professor of social psychology at the University of Bergen and one of the study’s authors.

Risk of “orthosomnia”

Researchers highlighted the growing phenomenon of orthosomnia—an obsessive pursuit of “perfect sleep” driven by app data, which can paradoxically disrupt sleep. “Signs include becoming rigid, compulsive, and overly focused on sleep habits in ways that reduce quality of life,” Pallesen explained, comparing it to orthorexia (an unhealthy fixation on “clean” eating).

He noted that people with pre-existing sleep disorders, such as insomnia, are especially vulnerable. In the study, insomnia sufferers reported significantly more negative effects, including greater anxiety and a stronger belief that poor app scores indicated a problem. “We’ve shown in other research that people with insomnia experience more harm from these apps than those without sleep issues,” Pallesen said.

Data is not absolute

Pallesen cautioned against treating sleep-tracker data as objective truth. “Many assume these numbers are definitive, but they’re not,” he said, adding that most people already have a good sense of their sleep quality without relying on algorithms.

The study underscores the potential downsides of sleep technology, particularly for those prone to anxiety or perfectionism, and suggests that the quest for “optimal” sleep may itself become a source of stress.