Does Smartphone Addiction Impair Maximal Exercise Capacity in Young Adults?

Abstract

Purpose: Smartphone addiction may reduce the time allocated for physical activity participation. However, it is not known if there is a direct association between smartphone addiction and reduced exercise capacity. Our aim was to investigate whether smartphone addiction impairs maximal exercise capacity, as well as analyzing its influence on the perceived benefits of exercise and physical activity habits in young adults. Material and Method: Forty-six volunteers were evaluated by a symptom-limited incremental exercise test. Smartphone addiction of volunteers was evaluated using Smartphone Addiction Scale- Short Form. Physical activity participation and perceived benefits of physical activity participation were evaluated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire- Short Form and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, respectively. Results: Prevalence of smartphone addiction was 65% in young adults. No significant association was detected between smartphone addiction and any of maximal exercise capacity metrics including test duration, maximum workload achieved in watts or maximum heart rate (p>0.05). Smartphone addiction did not correlate to physical activity participation either (p>0.05). Univariate linear regression revealed Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale score was able to explain 41% of variance in exercise test duration and 37% of variance in maximal workload (p<0.01), and it was also correlated to physical activity level (r=0.424; p<0.01) Conclusion: Smartphone addiction did not directly translate into lower physical activity participation or worse exercise capacity. However, perception of the benefits of exercise had great influence on physical activity and exercise capacity, which highlights the importance of increasing the awareness of the benefits of physical activity among young adults for maintaining physical health.

Keywords

• smartphone
• addiction
• exercise capacity
• physical activitiy
• exercise perception

Supporting Institution

The study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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