Chirayu N. Pandya1, Donald S. Christian2, Mansi M. Patel3
BACKGROUND
Smartphone use has gone tremendously up throughout the world during the past
decade and addiction potential is well documented among the users. Smartphone
addiction among adolescents and young adults should be seen with caution as
they lay the foundations not only for their healthy lives but also of the country’s
future and its economy, they live in.
METHODS
Both school and college students aged between 15 - 24 years were enrolled in this
cross sectional study, using systematic random sampling technique to determine
smartphone addiction potential through Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). The
possible factors contributing to SAS scores were also determined through
statistical tests (Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann Whitney U test).
RESULTS
Among a total of 239 respondents of age 15 to 24 years (mean age 18.5 ± 2.35
years), there were 124 (51.9 %) females and 231 (96.7 %) belonged to the urban
area. Most of the participants were studying in high school (40.6 %) followed by
medical field (40.2 %). A total of 110 (46 %), students had used their smartphone
commonly for social media purpose, followed by entertainment purpose (29.3 %),
education (36 %), web surfing (20 %). The median daily usage of smartphone
was found to be 4 hours among participants. The mean score of SAS was found
to be 103.59 ± 25.08. There was statistically significant difference in SAS score
according to age group, according to their smartphone usage per day, according
to common purpose of usage of smartphone and also according to their streams,
and monthly expenses the student spends to recharge their smartphone.
CONCLUSIONS
Smartphone addiction potential was determined according to various social and
demographic characteristics. Factors causing smartphone addiction should be
tackled by multiple stakeholders to reduce the chances of addiction due to
smartphone and to protect them from future health consequences.
