Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student

Kürşad Buğrahan Yapar; Nurettin Doğan

doi:10.47000/tjmcs.1778970

Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student

Abstract

Excessive smartphone use among university students, driven by activities such as social media engagement and online content consumption, has raised concerns about its impact on sleep quality. This study examines how reducing smartphone use and increasing physical activity affect sleep quality and daytime fatigue in this population. A single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental approach was utilized, involving a convenience sample of university students (mean age: 19.83±1.39 years, BMI: 22.56±3.29). The data for this study were obtained through the administration of the Personal Information Form, the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The intervention reduced daily smartphone use by 30 minutes and increased physical activity by five minutes over one week. Following the intervention, notable improvements were observed in all subdimensions of the PSQI (p<0.001), accompanied by a statistically significant reduction in ESS scores (p<0.05), indicating enhanced sleep quality and reduced daytime drowsiness. These findings suggest that smartphone addiction negatively affects sleep, while digital detox and physical activity interventions enhance sleep quality. From a human-computer interaction standpoint, this research emphasizes the effectiveness of user-oriented digital solutions in promoting healthier smartphone habits and supporting student well-being.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Human-Computer Interaction

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Kürşad Buğrahan Yapar
0009-0006-7666-6177
Türkiye

Nurettin Doğan ^*
0000-0002-8267-8469
Türkiye

Publication Date

February 23, 2026

Submission Date

September 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 17, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 18 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.47000/tjmcs.1778970

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA43UD25AU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yapar, K. B., & Doğan, N. (2026). Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student. Turkish Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, 18(1), 183-191. https://doi.org/10.47000/tjmcs.1778970

AMA

1.Yapar KB, Doğan N. Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student. TJMCS. 2026;18(1):183-191. doi:10.47000/tjmcs.1778970

Chicago

Yapar, Kürşad Buğrahan, and Nurettin Doğan. 2026. “Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student”. Turkish Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science 18 (1): 183-91. https://doi.org/10.47000/tjmcs.1778970.

EndNote

Yapar KB, Doğan N (February 1, 2026) Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student. Turkish Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science 18 1 183–191.

IEEE

[1]K. B. Yapar and N. Doğan, “Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student”, TJMCS, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 183–191, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.47000/tjmcs.1778970.

ISNAD

Yapar, Kürşad Buğrahan - Doğan, Nurettin. “Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student”. Turkish Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science 18/1 (February 1, 2026): 183-191. https://doi.org/10.47000/tjmcs.1778970.

JAMA

1.Yapar KB, Doğan N. Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student. TJMCS. 2026;18:183–191.

MLA

Yapar, Kürşad Buğrahan, and Nurettin Doğan. “Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student”. Turkish Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, vol. 18, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 183-91, doi:10.47000/tjmcs.1778970.

Vancouver

1.Kürşad Buğrahan Yapar, Nurettin Doğan. Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student. TJMCS. 2026 Feb. 1;18(1):183-91. doi:10.47000/tjmcs.1778970