Smartphone Usage Pattern And İts Effect On Students’ Social Life

Mobile phones have improved student’s quality of social interactions, ways of communication and studying habits. Despite the fact that smartphones come with a range of benefits like enhanced connectivity and access to live information, their overconsumption can adversely affect students' mental health and social life. Study aimed to research impact of use of smart phone on the communication style, social interactions, and academic activities among Ist and IInd year MBBS students of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Karad. The study used a cross-sectional survey design, using a structured self-administered questionnaire, measuring smartphone addiction, social interactions, and psychological well-being. The Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) was employed for classifying addiction levels. The key Findings in the study was that there were 89 (38.7%) students were high smartphone users (SAS-SV Score ≥32) out of 230 MBBS students. Eventhough there was no significant difference between genders on smartphone addiction (p = 0.1265), 56% of students spend 2-5 hours per day using smartphones, while 8% use smartphones for more than 5 hours daily, which can prove to be the potential addiction for the teens. A strong relationship (r = 0.42) was found in smartphone addects and high screen time. The policies and family role as well as use of digital Well-Being toos is needed in the colleges.