Problematic smartphone usage : correlation with physical activity and sleep quality among university students in Singapore

Abstract

Background: The proliferation of technology have brought about an era of smartphones. The booming use and pervasiveness of smartphones have raised the issue of problematic smartphone usage. Problematic smartphone usage may lead to increased sedentary behaviours and cause sleep displacement in university students. Such behaviours are linked with adverse effects such as a higher rate of obesity and worsening of sleep quality. While existing evidence demonstrates this relationship, there were no studies conducted on this relationship in Singapore yet. Evidence from this study may be utilised to aid in instituting measures to improve physical activity and sleep quality among university students. Purpose: This study aims to examine if there is a relationship between problematic smartphone usage and physical activity levels; as well as sleep quality in Singapore university students. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 Singapore university students (age 22.8 ± 2.06 years). The survey package includes Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version, International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to determine the relationship between problematic smartphone usage risk and both physical activity levels and sleep quality. Results and Conclusion: No correlation between problematic smartphone usage and physical activity levels among university students. On the whole, significant negative correlations were found between problematic smartphone usage and sleep quality. When using gender as a moderating factor, only female university students demonstrated this relationship. Further studies should be done using objective and qualitative measures to establish the relationship among the variables.