Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relation with sleep disturbance and low self- esteem among medical college students

BACKGROUND: Use of smartphone is on the increase worldwide. They have revolutionized our lives to an extent that was unimaginable before the pandemic. Excessive use of smartphones reaching the levels of potential addiction among medical students and its relation to individual's sleep quality and self-esteem led us to study this prevalence. AIM: This stuay aimed to study the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relation with self-esteem and sleep disturbance in medical college students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional analytical study was carried out and the prevalence of smartphone addiction, self- esteem, and sleep disturbance was measured using standardized questionnaires smartphone addiction scale short form, Rosenberg self esteem scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index assessment respectively. RESULTS: Prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical college students was 52%. Smartphone addiction was seen more in boys than girls. There was a significant association between the smartphone addiction and sleep disturbance. However, there was no significant association between smartphone addiction and low self-esteem. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical students is found to be high and is associated with poor sleep.