Effect of Mothers’ Using Smartphone on Their Quality of Life and Family Functions

Background: Smartphone used widely in everyday life. However, mothers' smartphoneoveruse and misuse can affect on family quality of life and functions. Aim of the study: toassess the effect of mothers' using smartphone on their quality of life and family functions.Design: A descriptive cross-sectional research design. Setting: This study was conducted at(MCH) Centers at Tanta City. Subjects: A convenience sampling of 700 mothers. Tools: Fourtools were used. Tool (I): Mothers’ knowledge regarding smartphone use consisted two parts:part (1): Socio-demographic characteristics of the mothers. Part (2): Smartphone useknowledge questionnaire. Tool (II): Smartphone addiction scale (SAS). Tool (III): Familyquality of life (FQL) scale. Tool (IV): Family Assessment Device (FAD) of McMaster modelFamily functioning. Results: about two-thirds (66%) of them had low level of knowledge,more than two fifth (42.3%) had moderate level of smartphone addiction and more than half(54.4%) addicting smartphone had unsatisfied FQOL, and the majority (83.1%) of them hadunhealthy family functions. Conclusion: There was a highly statistically significant correlationbetween total knowledge score with total smartphone addiction scale and total familyfunctioning score. Also, there was a statistically significant correlation between total score offamily quality of life and total score of family functioning. The largest percentage of thosehaving smartphone addiction had an unsatisfied family quality of life and unhealthy familyfunction. Recommendation: continuous education programs are recommended about effect ofsmartphone misuse on FQOL and functions and encouraging them to find alternative such assports, shopping, and other outdoor activities rather than smartphone use.