Investigation of the relationship between technology addiction and sleepiness among university students in health-related departments in Turkey.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship of internet and smartphone addiction levels of university students in health-related departments with their daily sleepiness, and to identify associated factors. The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1 to November 30, 2019, at Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey, and comprised students of either gender registered with the faculties of medicine, dentistry, and health sciences, as well as the vocational school of health services. The self-administered survey form comprised the short form of the Young's Internet Addiction Test, the short version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Of the 640 subjects, 445(68.6%) were females and 204(31.4%) were males. Scores indicated a moderate level of addiction among the students along with excessive daytime sleepiness, showing a significant correlation between the two factors (p<0.001). As the level of internet and smartphone addiction increased, the state of sleepiness also increased among the university students.