Problematic mobile phone use and academic stress among Indian high school students: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: The proliferation of mobile phone usage among adolescents has raised concerns about its psychological impact, particularly regarding problematic use patterns and academic stress. Aim: This study investigated the relationship between problematic mobile phone use and academic stress among high school students from a nearby school in the northeastern region of India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 90 high school students (38 from Class X and 52 from Class XII) using the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale-10 (MPPUS-10) and the Academic Stress Scale-40. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, Chi-square tests, and independent t-tests were employed to examine associations between variables. Results: Ninety students (mean age 16.33 ± 1.22 years) were assessed. The mean MPPUS-10 score was 47.04 ± 14.77, with 24.44% showing problematic use, while 44.44% reported high academic stress (mean 88.58 ± 24.69). Academic stress was significantly higher in females (Mann–Whitney U, P = 0.001). MPPUS-10 scores correlated positively with academic stress (Spearman’s ρ =0.445, P < 0.001). Problematic use was associated with high stress ( χ 2 =7.98, P = 0.005). Regression analysis identified MPPUS score, sex, and age as significant predictors (R 2 =0.301). Conclusion: Problematic mobile phone use is significantly associated with elevated academic stress among high school students. Gender differences exist, with female students showing higher vulnerability to academic stress.