42% of dental students spend 8 hours on their phone daily

“Addicts tended to use smartphones more at night, while non-addicts used them more in the evening,” said the researchers.

The study also highlighted that smartphone addicts exhibited poorer mental well-being compared to non-addicts. Factors contributing to addiction included social media, browsing educational content, and peer pressure.

Despite a higher percentage (79%) of female participants, addiction levels did not significantly differ by gender. Social networking (44%) was the primary reason for smartphone usage among addicts, while phone calls and text messages (37.5%) were preferred by non-addicts.

Addicts typically spend 6 to 8 hours per day on smartphones, leading to disruptions in daily life, poor sleep quality, and mental well-being.

Withdrawal symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating and physical discomfort, were also observed.

The study underscored the detrimental effects of smartphone addiction on dental students’ lives and emphasised on the importance of addressing this issue.

Reference: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101447