Association Between Smartphone Addiction and Quality of Sleep in Pre-Clinical Medical Students at Navamindradhiraj University
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Abstract
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of smartphone addiction and examine its association with sleep quality among pre-clinical medical students, a population vulnerable to academic stress without the confounding effect of clinical shift work.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University. A total of 190 medical students in Years 1–3 were selected using stratified sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire covering demographic and smartphone-use behaviors, the Smartphone Addiction Scale: Thai Short Version, and the Thai Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with poor sleep quality.
Results: The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 49.5%, and 56.8% of participants had poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index > 5). Students with poor sleep quality reported longer smartphone use, more frequent phone checking, and a higher proportion reported social networking use. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, smartphone addiction was independently associated with poor sleep quality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.44–11.84; p < 0.001). Daily smartphone use for 5–6 hours (AOR = 3.40; 95% CI: 1.18–9.83; p = 0.024), use for more than 6 hours (AOR = 4.56; 95% CI: 1.64–12.68; p = 0.004), and social networking use (AOR = 7.06; 95% CI: 1.00–49.82; p = 0.049) were also independently associated with poor sleep quality.
Conclusion: Smartphone addiction is common among pre-clinical medical students and is independently associated with poor sleep quality. Higher odds of poor sleep quality were also observed among students with prolonged daily smartphone use and social networking use. Digital wellness education focusing on sleep hygiene, screen-time regulation, and healthy social media use may be beneficial for this population.
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