Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version Research Articles

Mobile Phones: Vital Addiction or Lethal Addiction? Mobile Phone Usage Patterns and Assessment of Mobile Addiction among Undergraduate Medical Students in Telangana, India.

Background Increased mobile phone usage among undergraduate medical students causes a detrimental effect on their health. The main focus of this study is to determine the pattern of mobile phone usage among undergraduate medical students in Hyderabad, India, and the detrimental effect on their health due to excess mobile use. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students from various medical colleges in Hyderabad, India, from September 2020 to January 2021. Data were collected from 626 respondents using a semistructured, pretested questionnaire. Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) was used to assess the risk of smartphone addiction. Microsoft Excel and SAS were employed to analyze the data. Associations were examined using Fisher's exact test. Results 100% of the respondents were using mobiles, with 83.2% spending more than 4 hours on them. Only 22% reported that no mobile use during classes. Half (51.6%) admitted to keeping their mobiles close by while sleeping. 84.3% used social networking apps via their mobiles. Common symptoms arising from prolonged mobile usage included eye strain (67.9%), blurred vision (31.4%), and numbness or tingling in palms (30.9%). 52.70% of the respondents were at high risk of mobile addiction according to SAS-SV. Screen time more than 4 hours was associated with high risk of mobile addiction (p < 0.0001). Significant association was found between high risk of mobile addiction and eye strain (p < 0.0001), blurry vision (p=0.0115), numbness/tingling in palms (p < 0.0001), and heat/tingling in the auditory area (p < 0.0001). Conclusion The study shows the alarming rate of risk of smartphone addiction among medical students. Students can be encouraged to assess their mobile addiction status and become aware of the issue. More research may be performed to develop standardized tools for early identification of mobile addiction and appropriate therapies for its rectification.

The smartphone addiction, peer relationships and loneliness in adolescents

This descriptive study was carried out to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, peer relationships, and loneliness in adolescents. The sample consisted of 500 adolescents aged between 15–18 years, who were high school students in Central Anatolia region during the 2018–2019 academic year. The data of the study was collected through a questionnaire, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS) and UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk, and Spearman correlation test. The SAS-SV, FQS and ULS mean scores were 27.82±11.53, 81.88±15.68, and 41.99±8.62, respectively. Results indicated there was a weak positive correlation between the companionship subscales of both FQS and ULS with SAS-SV. There was a weak negative correlation between the conflict subscales of FQS and SAS-SV. Providing a special education to adolescents and their parents to raise their awareness on the negative effects of smartphone addiction may be recommended.

A comparative study on cognitive, emotional, and social functioning in adolescents with and without smartphone addiction

Background: It has been well established that any form of addiction does not only have physiological impact but also long term cognitive, emotional and social impact. What is noticeable is however that, addiction has now become associated with many behaviours which are actually part of everyday life and is often termed as Behavioural Addiction. One of them being Smartphone Addiction. Although smartphones have become a necessity with many technological advantages, the rampant increase in use also has effects on our functioning and capacities. The young population being the prominent consumers, such effects are likely to be even more pronounced. Aims: The present study thus aims to assess the cognitive, emotional and social functioning of adolescents having smartphone addiction. Methods: The study compares adolescents having smartphone addiction with those who form the comparative group. A sample of 100 adolescents have been taken into account, belonging to the age range of 12-17 years. The Smartphone Addiction Scale- Short version (SAS-SV) has been used as a screening tool to form the two groups, with 50 participants in each group. The t-test has been chosen as the statistic and statistical analysis has been conducted using SPSS-20. Results: Significant differences has been found between the two groups with regards to working memory, Impulsivity and Social desirability. Conclusion: Overall, Smartphone Addiction produces differences in Adolescent’s functioning. Smartphones comes in the way of enriched psychological experience and adjusting to a world outside their screens becomes difficult.

The Development and Application of a Resilience-Promoting Program Using Changes in Sleep-Related Habits in Korean Adolescents

Objective: Resilience-promoting program which covers strategies to improve sleep health through modulation of sleep-related habits has been lacking. The authors aimed to develop a resilience-promoting program that incorporates the encouragement of healthy sleep habits. Methods: Fifty-eight adolescents (27 female, 46.6%; aged 13.78±0.82 years) were recruited to test the effectiveness of the program. Dur- ing the first and final sessions, several self-reported questionnaires, including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Smart- phone Addiction Scale–short version (SAS-SV), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), In- somnia Severity Index (ISI), and a sleep habit-related questionnaires were administered to the adolescents. After the first session, adolescents were provided with an Actiwatch and were asked to wear the watch to the last session date. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of resilience and sleep quality.Results: The participants’ resilience, morningness, sleep quality, wake after sleep onset (WASO), and wakening frequency during the night changed significantly. Resilience at the last session was related to sleep quality (β=-0.394, p=0.005) at the last session when controlling for age, sex, and morningness. Sleep quality at the last session was related to the mean sun- light exposure time (β=-0.363, p=0.037) at the last session when controlling for age, sex, and WASO during the third week.Conclusion: This study found that four weekly sessions of resilience-promoting program improved resilience, sleep quality including objective actigraphic measures, and morningness. Improved resilience was related to better sleep quality.

The effect of smartphone addiction on physical activity level in sports science undergraduates

BackgroundSmartphones are thought to have many negative effects on interpersonal relationships, physical-mental health, and general functionality as well as bring many conveniences to our daily lives. This study aimed to determine the effect of smartphone addiction on physical activity level in sports science undergraduates. Secondly, comparing the physical activity level in students by gender was aimed. MethodA total of 300 (134 female, 166 male) healthy university students were included in this study. The mean age of the subjects was 21.36 ± 2.33 years. The universe of the study consisted of volunteer students (Coaching Education, Physical Education and Sports Teaching, Sports Management, Recreation Departments) at the Faculty of Sport Sciences. Participants' demographic information was obtained and their physical activity levels were questioned with International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) and smartphone addictions with the Smartphone Addiction Scale- Short Version (SAS-SV). The significance level was accepted as p < .05 in statistical evaluations. ResultsAccording to IPAQ scores, physical activity levels of the participants were as follows; 65.3% were adequate, 32.7% low and 2% inactive. One-hundred and twenty-six participants (42%) were smartphone addicts according to the SAS-SV results. When the departments were examined within themselves, it was found that IPAQ and SAS-SV scores were negatively correlated for Physical Education and Sports Teaching (r = - 0.262; p = .021) and Sports management (r = - 0.295; p = .01).

The prevalence of text neck syndrome and its association with smartphone use among medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: Text neck syndrome was first described by Fishman D. It refers to neck pain caused by repetitive stress injury resulting from prolonged neck flexion among smartphone users. The association of neck disability with various behaviors during the use of smartphones is still unclear in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the frequency of such factors and evaluate whether they contribute to text neck. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at six medical colleges in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from July 2020 to January 2021. An electronic, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to medical students online. In addition, participants were asked to complete the smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV) and the neck disability index (NDI). Results: A total of 428 medical students participated, of which 304 (71.02%) were female, while 124 (28.97%) were male. The mean age was 22.11 ± 2.07 years. The prevalence of text neck syndrome was 68.1%. Among the participants, 49.5% had mild, 16.1% had moderate, and 2.6% had severe neck disabilities. The Spearman correlation coefficient showed a moderate positive correlation between SAS-SV and the NDI (rs = 0.328, P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The current study found that most medical students had a neck disability, and there was a significant association between text neck syndrome and smartphone use. In addition, a lack of appropriate neck positioning and prolonged use of smartphones were found in most students. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on raising awareness of the necessity of maintaining appropriate sitting posture and limiting the duration of mobile phone use.

The Association between Smartphone Addiction and Insomnia Incidence in Students of the Faculty of Medicine Udayana University Batch of 2020 during the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The use of smartphones is increasing in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic for various purposes, this encourages smartphone addiction. In addition, the incidence of insomnia has also increased in the pandemic era. AIM: This study was conducted to find an association between smartphone addiction and the incidence of insomnia, especially among students of the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University. METHOD: This research is a descriptive-analytic study with the cross-sectional method, using two main questionnaires, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and Insomnia Severity Index. Questionnaires were distributed using Google forms and then collected and analyzed using software SPSS version 25. RESULT: Overall the total research respondents with the inclusion criteria in this study amounted to 364 people. The results showed that 212 respondents (58.24%) had a high level of smartphone addiction and 152 respondents (41.76%) had a low level of smartphone addiction. In addition, 187 respondents (51.37%) experienced mild insomnia, 87 respondents (23.9%) experienced moderate insomnia, 13 respondents (3.57%) experienced severe insomnia, and 77 respondents (21.15%) did not experience insomnia. Based on the results of data analysis, it was found that smartphone addiction had a significant relationship (p = 0.002) with weak and positive correlation (r = 0.162) to the incidence of insomnia. CONCLUSION: It was found that the majority of respondents experienced high levels of smartphone addiction and mild insomnia. Another finding suggests the higher addiction to the smartphones, the more severe insomnia suffered.

The Relationship of Smartphone Addiction and Alexithymia.

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate whether smartphone addiction (SA) is associated with social media use and alexithymia levels in university students. MethodsA group of 935 students aged between 18 and 45 years (509 females and 426 males) was recruited from different universities in Istanbul. SAs, alexithymia and social media use were assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV), Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), and ad-hoc questions regarding social media use. ResultsThe mean age of participants was 21.89±3.27 years and 509 of participants were female (54.4%). 455 (48.6%) participants were placed in the “SA” and 198 (21.2%) in the “alexithymia” categories. The study found a high level of positive correlation (p<0.001) between both subscale and total TAS-20 scores and SAS-SV scores. Gender (OR=1.496, 95% CI 1.117–2.002, p=0.007) and number of social media by participants (OR=1.221, 95% CI 1.134–1.315, p<0.001) and TAS (OR=1.074, 95% CI 1.059–1.090, p<0.001) were found to be an independent predictors for SA. ConclusionThe study revealed a positive correlation between alexithymia and smartphone use severity, and alexithymia was a significant predictor of SA. Future studies focusing on the causal aspect of this relationship will be useful in planning strategies for treatment.

Internet and Smartphone Addiction of Staff Working in an Adolescent Addiction Treatment Center

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the level of smart phone and internet addiction among the staff working in the substance dependence treatment center serving children and adolescents under the age of 18. &#x0D; Method: The study included 30 people from different professions working in the child adolescent substance dependence treatment center. Participants were given a sociodemographic data form, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and Short Form of Young’s Internet Addiction Test (YIAT-SF). &#x0D; Results: The mean score of the SAS-SV is 25.3 ± 11.4 and YIAT-SF is 19.2 ± 8.3. These values are accepted as low-moderate. A negative significant correlation was found between age and YIAT-SF. Also, a positive significant correlation was found between both scale scores. &#x0D; Conclusions: Internet and smartphone addictions of staff working in the adolescent addiction service were found to be similar to the results of studies conducted with other healthcare professionals. The data obtained from the study were discussed with the current literature. In this regard, there is a need for studies involving staff working in different dependence treatment centers and units.

Smartphone addiction is associated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, tension, confusion, and insomnia: A cross-sectional and comparative study with physically and non-physically active adults in self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction. During the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, social media exposure and the use of electronic devices have increased; still, these behaviors may cause adverse health effects. Objective. This study assessed sleep quality, insomnia, mood, and psychological aspects among physically (n = 46) and non-physically (n = 53) active individuals during self-isolation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and examined their association with smartphone addiction. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Brazilian citizens in self-isolation for at least 60 days; ninety-nine volunteers from different Brazilian regions were enrolled in the online survey. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-Short Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Brunel Mood Scale, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version were used to assess the study outcomes. Results. The results indicate moderate and large correlations of smartphone addiction with mood subscales, insomnia (r = .52), anxiety (r = .49), depression (r = .49), and stress (r = .49) symptoms. Also, it was observed that physically active participants were less addicted to smartphones than the non-physically active during self-isolation (p

Effects of Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey: Physical activity, smartphone usage, musculoskeletal system

This study aims to evaluate relationship between physical activity level, smartphone usage, back and neck health during Covid-19 pandemic. Participants between ages of 18-65 were included in study. Smartphone usage was evaluated with Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, physical activity levels with short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire was used to evaluate back and neck problems. A total of 251 people (179 women, 72 men, age: 28.11±9.49 years, min-max: 18-62 years) participated in study. 134 participants (53.38%) had low physical activity levels; 35 individuals (13.94%) had sufficient physical activity levels while 82 participants (32.66%) were not physically active. A weak positive correlation was found between neck pain and total score of smartphone addiction scale, daily smartphone usage time, daily smartphone check frequency, and first check time after waking up (r=0.199, r=0.149, r=0.132, respectively). A weak negative correlation was found between neck pain and first check time after waking up (r=-0.145). As a result of study, it was observed that physical activity levels were insufficient in majority of individuals who participated in survey. The relationships we expected between physical activity level, smartphone usage characteristics, low back and neck health could not be demonstrated, only weak relationships were found between some features of smartphone use and neck health. We believe that finding solutions to increase physical activity levels of individuals during pandemic period will have both protective effects on health and will prevent problems by affecting musculoskeletal system positively.

Smartphone Addiction and Sleep Quality on Academic Performance of University Students: An Exploratory Research.

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and academic performance. The study presented quantitative research on 323 students in a public university in Sabah to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and academic performance. A simple random sampling was used in the study. The Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used in this study. SPSS was used as a tool of analysis for descriptive and inferential analysis. Pearson correlation was involved to test the hypothesis of the study. The result indicated that the greater the smartphone addiction, the lower the academic performance of university students. The finding also proved that students with poor sleep quality might exhibit low academic performance. Smartphone addiction was found to be associated with sleep quality where overusing smartphones was related to poor sleep quality in university students. On this basis, the problem of smartphone addiction and sleep quality should be tackled in order to improve the academic performance of university students and their overall health.

Investigating Links Between Fear of COVID-19, Neuroticism, Social Networks Use Disorder, and Smartphone Use Disorder Tendencies.

The present study investigates links between fear of COVID-19, the personality trait of neuroticism, social networks use disorder, and smartphone use disorder (SNUD and SmUD, respectively) tendencies. In an online survey, N = 932 participants recruited at a Chinese University (237 males and 695 females) completed self-reports on fear of COVID-19, neuroticism (and other personality traits from the Big Five Inventory-44), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (assessing tendencies toward SNUD), and the Smartphone Addiction Scale short version—assessing individual differences in tendencies toward SmUD.Our findings showed that all variables of main interest were positively correlated with each other. A mediation model suggested that SNUD (in parts) mediated the association between fear of COVID-19 and SmUD. Although neuroticism was robustly correlated with all mentioned variables, no moderation effect could be observed on the investigated fear-of-COVID-19-SNUD-link.The findings of this work provide further evidence that the smartphone itself is only a device giving individuals access to software applications, which might be excessively used. Beyond that, the present data indicate neuroticism to be a risk factor with respect to fear of COVID-19, SNUD, and SmUD, although the study is limited by its cross-sectional study design.

Smartphone Use Among University Students During COVID-19 Quarantine: An Ethical Trigger.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, Jordan enforced 10 weeks of home quarantine in the spring of 2020. A cross-sectional study was designed to assess this extended quarantine's effect on smartphone addiction levels among undergraduates. A random sample of 6,157 undergraduates completed an online questionnaire (mean age 19.79 ± 1.67 years; males 28.7%). The questionnaire contains different sections to collect socio-demographic, socio-economic, academic, quarantine-related information, and smartphone usage. The smartphone addiction scale-short version was used to assess the degree of addiction during the quarantine. The mean addiction score across the whole sample was 35.66 ± 12.08, while the prevalence of addiction among participants was 62.4% (63.5% in males and 61.9% in females). The majority of the participants (85%) reported that their smartphone usage during the quarantine increased or greatly increased (27.6 and 57.2%, respectively), with some 42% using their smartphones for more than 6 h a day. Nevertheless, three-quarters of the students wished to reduce their smartphone usage. Several demographic and quarantine factors have been assessed, and students' gender, the field of study, parental education, household income in addition to the location of quarantine (urban, rural) and the house specifications (apartment, independent house, with/without a garden) showed statistically significant associations with smartphone addiction during the quarantine. Female students, students studying scientific- and medical-related majors compared to those studying humanity majors, those with higher incomes, those who had been quarantined in an apartment without a garden, and those who lived in urban areas showed significantly higher addiction scores.

Smartphone addiction and perceived pain among nursing students: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study investigates smartphone addiction among nursing students, the levels of perceived pain in the upper extremity, and the relationship between them. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 259 nursing students in a Turkish state university, who agreed to participate in the research. Study data were collected online using the introductory questionnaire, smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV), and numeric rating scale (NRS). The data were evaluated by descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis. The SAS-SV score of students included in the study was 25.71 ± 7.49. It was determined that all of the students experienced burning in the ears, pinkie, elbow, shoulder, wrist, eye, hand and neck pain due to telephone use. In the study, it was determined that the SAS-SV scores of the students were found to be higher 7.4 times in those with the highest level of headache; 6.8 times in those with the highest level of ear pain; 8.4 times in those with the highest level of shoulder pain; 8.2 times in those with the highest level of low back pain. The study established that students were experiencing a low level of smartphone addiction; however, various health and social problems associated with phone use and smartphone addiction caused pain in certain extremities.

Relationships Between Anxiety, Perceived Vulnerability to Disease, and Smartphone Use During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in a Sample of Italian College Students.

Introduction: As of March 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a “pandemic” by the WHO. This has led to the need for governments around the world to implement restrictive containment and isolation measures to stem the spread of the virus; these measures have included social distancing, isolation, and quarantine. The fear of contagion has been indicated as one of the causes of stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia in the general population. With respect to the response of young people to the pandemic, the category of University students deserves further attention. The sudden change in “University” habits (i.e., poor interaction with teachers and colleagues, disturbing learning environment, and difficulty in adapting to online learning), the consequent loss of a social network, and the economic problems in their families have seriously affected the psychophysical well-being of University students. The aim of this study was to explore, in a sample of Italian University students, the relationships among anxiety, perceived vulnerability to disease, and smartphone use during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A sample of 194 volunteer college students (i.e., 86 males and 108 females) aged between 18 and 30 years (M = 21.74; SD = 2.39) were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were recruited through an online questionnaire sent to students of the University of Catania, Italy, and distributed from September 2020 to January 2021. The volunteer participants were given an online protocol that included the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) for the evaluation of fear, the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease (PVD) for the evaluation of perceived vulnerability to disease, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for the evaluation of trait and state anxiety, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version for Adolescents and Young Adults (SAS-SV) for the evaluation of use, abuse, or addiction of smartphone use.Results: The fear of COVID-19 did not reach an intensity such as to be defined as serious (i.e., fear score: 15.53) in the whole sample. Both men and women showed a high risk of smartphone addiction (i.e., score of males: 28.33 and score of females: 26.88) in SAS-SV. University students showed moderate trait and state anxiety [i.e., a score of 51.60 in Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) and a score of 47.21 in State Anxiety Inventory (SAI)] in STAI. In addition, students showed moderate perceived vulnerability to disease (i.e., a score of 51.51) in PVD. The results showed that fear of COVID-19 and trait anxiety appear to be the predictors of SAI and PVD but not the predictors of risk of smartphone addiction (SAS-SV).Conclusions: The data highlighted the presence of a perception of vulnerability to infections in subjects in which there was also a moderate anxiety, both state and trait, associated with the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hoped that a large part of the population will soon be vaccinated, including University students, and therefore, it would be desirable to carry out further assessments in the post-vaccine phase to highlight any differences in the state of anxiety and the perception of vulnerability to infections. The possible positive role of the use of smartphones in maintaining social contacts should also be emphasized.

Smart phone usage pattern and associated insomnia among undergraduate students of a Medical College in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu

Introduction: With increased integration of technology into medical education, smart phones have become an indispensable tool. Excess exposure to smart phones and its inadvertent use result in adverse health consequences, both physical and psychological. This study was planned to assess smart phone usage pattern and prevalence of smart phone addiction among undergraduate medical students and to identify association between smart phone usage and insomnia. Material and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students of a medical college in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, during January and February 2020. A total of 221 students from first, second, and third year MBBS participated. A Google Form with informed consent, smart phone usage practices, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used as study tool. Data were summarized as percentages, mean, and standard deviation and appropriate statistical tests of significance applied using SPSS software. Results: Approximately half the students (49.3%) used smart phones for up to 3 h daily. Online videos (37.5%) and social media (34.9%) were the most common applications used; 39.4% skipped night-time sleep to use smart phone. The prevalence of smart phone addiction and insomnia was 23.5% and 30%, respectively. Gender, duration of use, time spent in online chats, and Internet search were significantly associated with insomnia; 51.9% of those with smart phone addiction reported insomnia (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of smart phone addiction and associated insomnia are high among medical students. With evolving need for technology in medical education, it is imperative that students are sensitized to rational use of smart phones.

Smartphone addiction and depression, anxiety: The role of bedtime procrastination and self-control

Owing to the widespread use of smartphones, researchers have an increasing interest in smartphone addiction. The purpose of this study is to look into the outcomes of smartphone addiction while answering when and how smartphone addiction may predict university students' depression and anxiety. Primary data were collected from 355 students studying in different universities in China. Participants completed Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS), Self-control Scale (SCS) and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS). PROCESS macros in SPSS24.0 were used to examine the moderated mediating effects. Smartphone addiction Scale scores were positively correlated with depression, anxiety among university students through bedtime procrastination. Self-control was found to play the moderating role such that the mediated relationships were weak for students with high self-control. This study is a cross sectional study, so we cannot make causal inferences. Individuals with smartphone addiction are inclined to postpone their bedtime and further experience more depression and anxiety. Self-control serves as a protective factor for bedtime procrastination, depression and anxiety.

Gadget usage pattern and sleep quality among medical undergraduates during COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional study

Background: The afoot COVID-19 pandemic has covered approximately every edge of the world. Schools and colleges are temporarily shut leading to children being indoors. Thus, gadgets have become an inseparable part of life and govern the daily routine of an individual. The aim of the study was to assess the pattern of gadget usage and sleep quality among medical undergraduates during COVID-19 lockdown.Methods: Present cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 149 medical undergraduates of Shri Vasantrao Naik Govt. Medical College, Yavatmal. Their gadget usage pattern and sleep quality before and during lockdown were measured using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire based on Smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), administered via the Google forms platform.Results: 139 (93.28%) responses were completely and correctly filled. Smartphone addiction was seen in 71 (51.08%) study subjects. The mean sleep duration before and during lockdown had no significant changes. There was linear positive correlation between SAS-SV score and PSQI score, but the correlation was not statistically significant.Conclusions: The proportion of smartphone addiction amongst medical undergraduates is significantly high and the mean sleep duration is reduced during lockdown.

The associations between smart device use and psychological distress among secondary and high school students in Kuwait.

BackgroundSmart devices (SDs) are widely used among adolescents. Numerous studies have recommended further research on this topic to find out the prevalence of SD overuse among school students and to what extent this is associated with psychological distress. The present study aimed to investigate the pattern of SD use among secondary and high school students in the state of Kuwait, as well as the possible associations with psychological problems, weight, physical activity, and school performance.Materials and methodsThe correlational study design aimed to survey students from public schools by using a questionnaire and valid instruments, which included: Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV) and Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Scale–(DASS-21). Pearson’s correlation coefficient, t-tests, one-way ANOVA were applied to find associations or significant differences between the categorical variables, in which p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe study included 1,993 students from secondary schools (48.9%) and high schools (51.1%), of which 47.5% were male and 52.5% were female. There were significant statistical differences in the pattern of use of SDs, addiction to SD use, stress, anxiety, and depression according to gender, school type, school performance, and sport engagement. In addition, there were positive correlations between students’ addiction to SD use and stress, anxiety, and depression.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that excessive SD use is associated with addiction among secondary and high school students. In addition, levels of stress, anxiety, and depression differ according to the number of hours of SD use. Strategies should be developed at the community and school levels to avoid the overuse of SDs among school-aged students.