Smartphone Addiction and Its Impact on Mental Health among Graduate Students: Evidence from South Assam, India

A mobile phone is an electronic device designed for communication. Smartphones have become incredibly versatile and robust over time, enabling users to accomplish a wide range of tasks, which can often lead to excessive or improper use, which can harm health, especially causing various mental issues. This phenomenon is widespread among adolescents/students. Against this backdrop, the primary objective of the present study is to explore the link between smartphone addiction and mental health among graduate students in South Assam. This investigation is based on primary data collected from premier colleges of South Assam. To analyse the data, initially, the Chi-square test is applied, and then ordinal logistic regression, a more robust technique for examining the relationship between variables, is employed. We found that addiction levels varied, reflecting diverse usage habits integral to modern life. The Chi-square tests also indicated a significant association between smartphone addiction and mental health. Regression analysis further revealed a negative influence of mental health on smartphone addiction, suggesting the fact that better mental health correlates with lower addiction levels. So, promoting healthy habits and awareness of risks associated with smartphone use is crucial for building a healthy and sustainable society.