Effect of smartphone overuse on sleep problems in medical students
Open accessAbstract
Background: Smartphones are used worldwide. Consequently, it does seem to be having an impact on health-related problems \nif overused. However, it is uncertain whether it is associated with sleep problems or poor learning. \nObjective: To determine the association between smartphone overuse and sleep problems in medical students as primary outcome and poor learning as secondary outcome. \nMethods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 89 students having their own smartphones, at Hatyai Medical Education \nCentre, Thailand. The habits of using smartphone were obtained. Smartphone overuse during bedtime was defined as using longer \nthan 1 hour according to Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). The primary outcome was napping in a classroom that was defined \nas a problem if it happened more than 20% of the time attending class. Sleep problems using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index \n(PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were obtained by self-assessment. Learning outcome measured by grade point \naverage was the secondary outcome. Multivariable analysis was performed for the association between smartphone overuse and \nsleep problems. \nResults: Of all students, 77.5% had sleep problems and 43.6% had napped in the classroom. No personal characteristics, daily \nlife behaviours, and physical environments were associated with sleep problems. 70.8% of all students found to over use \nsmartphones during bedtime. The Facebook website was the most popular. Smartphone overuse was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (odds ratio= 3.46) and napping in the classroom (odds ratio=4.09) but not grade point average. \nConclusion: Smartphone overuse during bedtime in medical students is associated with sleep problems but not learning \nachievement.
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Numerous research studies have found negative correlations between smartphone usage and sleep.
“This was one of the most frequently cited benefits of the challenge, which is not surprising given that numerous research studies have found negative correlations between smartphone usage and sleep.44-46”
From An Intervention Utilizing the Salience Principle to Reduce Pharmacy Students’ Psychological Attraction to Smartphones (2022) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Boonluksiri, P.
- Corresponding author
- Boonluksiri, Pairoj
- Venue
- The Asia Pacific Scholar
- Publisher
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
- Published
- 2018-05-02
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 25-28
- ISSN
- 2424-9270 (ISSN-L)
- 2424-9335
- OpenAlex
- W2800333277
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- The Asia Pacific Scholar (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Keywords
- smartphone overuse, sleep disorders, medical students, sleep quality, daytime napping, academic performance, smartphone addiction, bedtime screen use, Facebook use
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