Abstract
Smartphones use for a long period of time can cause health problems including physical condition, psychological condition and sleeping status. In addition, smartphones use may affect menstruation related symptoms. This study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire between June and November in 2016 to clarify the differences in physical and psychological condition, sleeping status and menstruation-related symptoms before and after starting to use smartphones in female university students in Japan. We recruited 273 female nursing students and the response rate was 95.2%. We found significant changes after starting to use smartphones regarding eyestrain (p < 0.001), posture (p = 0.002), stiffness of neck, back and shoulders (p < 0.001), level of outdoor activity (p < 0.001), difficulty concentrating (p < 0.001), lack of motivation (p < 0.001), and sensitivity to stress (p = 0.005). Moreover, we also found that fatigue before menstruation and headache/low back pain during menstruation were higher after starting to use smartphones. The proportions of students with irritability and depressive feeling as emotional premenstrual symptoms appeared higher after starting to use smartphones. These results imply that young women should refrain from using smartphones if they have visual display terminal-related symptoms, disturbance of sleep pattern and menstruation-related symptoms before and during menstruation.
Highlights
Electronic devices with visual displays are being used by people all over the world
The proportions of students with irritability and depressive feeling as emotional premenstrual symptoms appeared higher after starting to use smartphones. These results imply that young women should refrain from using smartphones if they have visual display terminal-related symptoms, disturbance of sleep pattern and menstruation-related symptoms before and during menstruation
Smartphones use for a long period of time can cause visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome
Summary
Electronic devices with visual displays are being used by people all over the world. Among such devices, smartphones have become universally available due to their compact nature. Smartphones use for a long period of time can cause visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome. Recent studies have shown that smartphones operation with one hand caused greater upper trapezius pain [8] and overuse of smartphones are associated with anxiety in students [9] [10]. It has reported that the use of light-emitting electronic devices for reading before bedtime prolonged the time it takes to fall asleep, delayed the circadian clock, and reduced melatonin levels [12]. It was found that blue-enriched light exposure acutely alters glucose metabolism and sleepiness [15]
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