Relationship among Smartphone Addiction, Interpersonal Relationships and Academic Stress at University Level

Abstract

Smartphones have become ubiquitous phenomena of life in the 21st century. The purpose of this study was to determine students’ perceptions regarding smartphone addiction, interpersonal relationship and academic stress. The study examined the correlation between smartphone addiction, interpersonal relationships, and academic stress among university students based on their demographic profile (gender, locality, institution type, program, and age), revealing a significant relationship between these factors and academic stress. The study used a descriptive correlational research design the students. All the students enrolled in universities of Punjab province served as population. Employing multistage simple random sampling technique a sample of 550 public and private university students was selected. Questionnaire was developed by the researchers with the help of extensive literature review. The reliability of the tool was computed through Cronbach-Alpha coefficient. Data was collected through an online survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such mean, standard deviation, t test, ANOVA and correlation. A study revealed a positive correlation between smartphone addiction, interpersonal relationships, and academic stress among university students. However, there were no significant differences based on demographics. The findings suggest that smartphone addiction can significantly impact university students' stress levels and interpersonal relationships and have significant implications for students, their families, and policymakers concerned about their well-being and academic success. The study highlights the importance of addressing smartphone addiction and promoting healthy interpersonal relationships in the university setting to reduce academic stress and improve academic performance.