A cross-sectional study to investigate the association between excessive smartphone use and sleep disturbances among adolescents, studying at KLE Society's Raja Lakhamagouda Science Institute, Belagavi, Karnataka, India, with a view to develop an information booklet

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We are in the second decade of the 21st century and technology has enveloped us in such a way that it is the technological gadgets that help us to open our eyes in the morning (i.e., alarm on a smartphone or an alarm clock), and it is the same technological devices that accompany us to our bed and remain there till we close our eyes at the night. The most important and multifunctional gift that the technology has provided us is the “Smartphone,” that has impacted our lives negatively. Smartphone addiction is a new kind of health disorder that is increasing the risk of severe health problems including sleep disturbances among adolescents. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to find out the association between excessive smartphone use and sleep disturbances among adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 adolescents, who were selected by nonprobability purposive sampling technique. Standardized Smartphone Addiction Scale Short-Version and Pittsburgh's Sleep Quality Index were used to assess the smartphone addiction and sleep disturbances among the participants, respectively. The correlation between smartphone addiction and sleep disturbances was found by Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that majority of the participants (99 [66%]) had high smartphone addiction and minority of them (51 [34%]) had low smartphone addiction. Out of 150 participants, 80 (53.33%) showed high sleep disturbances, whereas 70 (46.67%) showed low sleep disturbances. The study findings showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.8921) between excessive smartphone use and sleep disturbances among adolescents. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that excessive smartphone use affects both the sleep quality and sleep quantity of adolescents; moreover increased smartphone addiction leads to increased sleep disturbances among them.