Smartphone Addiction and Its Relationship with Depression in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed to determine the risk factors and at-risk prevalence for smartphone addiction, and also investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression in Necmettin Erbakan University students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 509 students who were enrolled in Necmettin Erbakan University, between March 1 and June 15, 2017. Together with the questionnaire form which was prepared by researchers after literature review, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version and Beck Depression Inventory were applied to the participants under supervision. Results: At-risk prevalence for smartphone addiction in the participants was 46.4%. There were statistically significant differences between the at-risk prevalence for smartphone addiction and gender, age, class they attended, daily smartphone use time, to use or not to use social network sites on smartphone, most used social network sites on smartphone, place of residence and most frequently purpose of smartphone usage. Of the participants, 31.4% were at risk for depression. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the at-risk prevalences for smartphone addiction and depression at a weak level. Conclusion: This study results showed that there are considerable numbers of university students who are at risk for smartphone addiction and depression. For more accurate results about smartphone addiction and depression relationship further clinical researches should be done. Keywords: addiction, depression, mobile phone, students, universities