The risk of smartphone addiction in university students and its affecting factors

Year 2022, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 989 - 995, 20.07.2022

Nursel Üstündağ Öcal , Ahmet Öztürk

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1080669

Abstract

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to determine the risk of smartphone addiction in university students and to reveal the factors affecting it.
Material and Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on first and fourth year students of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of a state university in the Central Anatolia Region. The study was completed with 1181 students who agreed to participate in the research. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form consisting of 29 questions and a Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SF) consisting of 10 questions. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used in the comparative analyses, and p<0.05 values were considered statistically significant.
Results: 51.6% of the students participating in the study were female and 48.4% were male. The average age of first use of smartphones by students is 15.6±2.6 years. The average score of the students in SAS-SF is 28.12±10.65, According to the evaluation made by considering the cut-off points of the scale (above 31 for men and 33 for women), the risk of smartphone addiction was found in 34.7%.
Conclusion: It has been determined that approximately one third of the students participating in the research are at risk of smartphone addiction, and awareness of the subject should be created in the students.

Keywords

Smartphone addiction, university students, behavioral addiction

Supporting Institution

Erciyes University Scientific Research Projects Unit

Project Number

TDK-2018-8143

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