Association between Smartphone Screen Time and Perceived Stress Levels among Preclinical Medical Students in Sarawak, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The digital transformation of medical education has increased reliance on smartphones for learning, making them vital tools for preclinical medical students. This shift raises concerns about the association between prolonged screen time and students’ stress levels. However, the association between smartphone screen time and perceived stress levels among preclinical medical students in Sarawak, Malaysia, remains underexplored. Aim/Purpose/Objective: To determine the association between smartphone screen time and perceived stress levels among preclinical medical students at a public medical school in Sarawak, Malaysia. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 108 preclinical medical students (Years one and two) at a public medical school in Sarawak from January 2023 to January 2024. Simple random sampling was employed. Participants provided their daily screen time using the built-in “screen time” tab on their smartphones, with excessive daily screen time defined as more than six hours per day. The validated Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) was used to determine perceived stress levels, with scores ranging from low (0-13), moderate (14-26), to high (27-40) stress. The prevalence of excessive screen time and perceived stress levels were described in percentages, and the Chi-square statistical analysis was used to determine their association. Results: Among the 108 participants, 78.7% reported daily screen time of more than six hours (excessive daily screen time), while 21.3% reported six hours or less. The study found that 93.5% of students experienced moderate stress levels, 3.7% experienced low stress levels, and 2.8% experienced high stress levels. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between smartphone screen time and perceived stress levels (p=0.25). Conclusion: While excessive daily screen time and moderate stress levels are prevalent among preclinical medical students, no significant association was found between the two. Further research is needed to explore other factors contributing to stress and potential interventions to manage screen time and stress among them. Keywords: Digital; smartphone; screen time; stress; preclinical medical students