Problematic Smartphone Use among students and its association with lifestyle related health issues
Keywords:
smartphone addiction, sleep disturbances, food addiction, problematic smartphone useAbstract
Background: There is a rising concern regarding the addictive potential of smartphones as seen from research in developed nations around the world. Hence, increasing penetration of smartphones into the markets in low- and middle-income countries is becoming a matter of concern.
Objectives: To study the prevalence of Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) among students and to study the correlation of PSU with other health and behavioral corelates. Methodology: Short version of Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV) was used to assess the prevalence of PSU through an online Google survey form. Additional questions were included regarding demographic profile, regularity of exercise, frequency of intake of food high in fat, salt and sugar, and sleep disturbances. Also, data regarding regularity of menstrual cycles and features of androgen, which may be suggestive of polycystic ovary syndrome, was collected from female students to study the correlation with PSU.
Results: Valid data was received from 421 respondents, with male to female ratio of 0.74. SASSV score of 31 for males and 29 for female students corresponding to the 75th percentile was used as a cut-off for self-reported PSU. Average duration of smartphone use was 4.79 (+/-2.64) hours. There was significant correlation between PSU and decreased frequency of exercise, increased consumption of HFSS food, and increased sleep disturbance, but the correlation with BMI, menstrual irregularity and PCOS was not significant.
Conclusion: Prolonged and problematic smartphone use is an emerging public health problem of concern that can be managed by raising awareness among the end-users and by enforcing regulation at parental and institutional levels.
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