Health Effects of Smartphones in 14-19 Age Young People

Abstract

Objective: Mobile technologies have been rising and expanding rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine high school students' smartphone use and related health problems (attention deficit, kyphosis, myopia) with a new approach. Materials and Methods: Using smartphones in high school students, including the ages of 14-19, and its effects on health were examined by creating two groups over the Google form survey system (Group I: Less than three hours and Group II: three hours or more). This descriptive study was conducted between November 10 and December 16, 2022. Cronbach's alpha (α = 0.84) value was calculated with the SPSS 25.0 program to observe the reliability of the questionnaire. Results: A total of 242 students participated in the survey study. The average age of the students is 15.94. The age of using a smartphone for the first time was lower in Group II compared to Group I (p=0.013). In Group II, distance vision impairment (myopia) (p=0.047), attention deficit (DI) (p=0.001) and postural impairment (kyphosis) (p=0.004) were found to be significantly higher. Conclusion: Although using smartphones for educational purposes is seen as favourable in high school students, they cannot ignore the health problems (myopia, kyphosis, lack of attention) caused by them.

Keywords

• Attention deficit
• kyphosis
• myopia
• smartphones

Akıllı Telefonların 14-19 Yaş Gençlerde Sağlık Açısından Etkileri

Öz

Amaç: Mobil teknolojiler, COVİD-19 pandemisinden bu yana hızla yükseliyor ve genişliyor. Bu çalışma, lise öğrencilerinde akıllı telefon kullanımı ve buna bağlı sağlık sorunlarının (dikkat eksikliği, kifoz, miyop) yeni bir yaklaşımla belirlenmesini amaçlamaktadır. Materyal ve Metot: 14-19 yaş dahil olmak üzere lise öğrencilerinde akıllı telefon kullanımı ve sağlık üzerine olan etkileri, Google form anket sistemi üzerinden, iki grup oluşturularak, incelenmiştir (Grup I: Üç saatten az ve Grup II: Üç saat ve üzeri). Tanımlayıcı tipteki bu araştırma 10 Kasım -16 Aralık 2022 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Anketin güvenirliğini gözlemlemek için SPSS 25.0 programı ile Cronbach's alpha (α = 0,84) değeri hesaplanmıştır. Bulgular: Anket çalışmasına toplam olarak 242 öğrenci katılmıştır. Öğrencilerin yaş ortalaması 15.94'tür. Grup II'de ilk kez akıllı telefon kullanma yaşı Grup I'e göre daha düşüktü (p=0,013). Grup II'de; uzağı görme bozukluğu (miyopi) (p=0,047), dikkat eksikliği (DE) (p=0,001) ve postür bozukluğu (kifoz) (p=0,004) anlamlı olarak daha yüksek bulundu. Sonuç: Lise öğrencilerinde akıllı telefonların eğitim amaçlı kullanımı olumlu olarak görülse de yol açtığı sağlık sorunları (miyop, kifoz, dikkat eksikliği) göz ardı edilemez.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Akıllı telefon
• dikkat eksikliği
• kifoz
• miyopi

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