Effect of Smart Phone Use on Sleep Quality of Young Adults

Smartphone use has been related to health problems. Studies have indicated that the use of smartphones is associated with Sleep disturbances. However, little is known about the association between Smartphone addiction and sleep quality in adolescents and young adults. This Smart phone addiction is affecting their lifestyle in such a manner that they find it ok to compromise with their sleep which is not good at all for their mental as well as physical health. The current study examined the relationship between problematic mobile phone use and sleep quality. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the 50 Young male and female adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 24 years. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Objectives of the study was to compare the effects of mobile phone on quality of sleep in smart phone users using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV). Two scales were adopted in our study. 44% subjects used phones for 3-5 hours daily, 30% used for 2-3 hours, 16% used for more than 5 hours. 10% used for 1-2 hours. A high SAS-SV score was found to be a significant indicator of poorer sleep quality. 64% subjects were low users and 36% were high users according to Short Version (SAS-SV) scores of smartphone addiction scale. 60% subjects had poor sleep quality and 40% had good sleep quality as per Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Our study showed a high prevalence of smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality for the participants. Younger age, being single, and heavy usage hours of smartphones seem to be indicators for poorer sleep quality.