Examining the correlation between smartphone addiction and social and emotional loneliness levels of nursing students

Examining the correlation between smartphone addiction and social and emotional loneliness levels of nursing students I n recent years, smartphones have become an indispensable component of our daily lives.The rapid pace of individuals' lives, faster rate of communication, and the emergence of novel business fields have been introduced and smartphones have become a must in daily life. [1]Overuse of smartphones can lead to behaviors that closely resemble addiction. [2]martphone addiction, as a type of technology addiction, is a self-control disorder that can manifest itself through prolonged use of mobile phones. [3]The symptoms of smartphone addiction include extended periods of phone use beyond normal and frequent phone checks as well as heightened tension and restlessness, physical symptoms (headache, dizziness, etc.), diminished academic achievement, postponement of daily life activities, avoidance of social interactions, inability to reach one's full potential, and intense feelings of loneliness in the absence of a phone. [3]Factors such as diminished self-confidence and self-esteem, all communications by telephone, inadequacies in interpersonal communication, the ability to express oneself more easily and make friends in virtual settings, and the feeling of self-actualization by satisfying the need for acceptance and approval in virtual settings raise the risk of smartphone addiction. [4,5]iversity students turn to smartphones to meet their social support and communication needs, depending on the char-Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between nursing students' smartphone addiction and their social and emotional loneliness levels.Methods: This study was designed as a descriptive-cross-sectional trial.The study was conducted between May 15, 2022, and June 30, 2022.The sample of the study consisted of students (n=243) who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study.The data were collected using the "Personal Information Form, " "Smartphone Addiction Scale" (SAS), and "Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA-S)." Results: It was found that the students' mean scores were 29.8910.75 in the SAS-Short Version and 58.6211.14 in the SELSA-S.Men's family emotional loneliness levels were higher than the levels of the women; 4 th -year students had lower levels of smartphone addiction and higher levels of social loneliness.Romantic emotional loneliness levels of the students who used smartphones for communication-chat were higher than those who use smartphones for entertainment-music and social media.Those with insufficient friendship and family relationships had higher smartphone addiction levels.Conclusion: A significant correlation was found between smartphone addiction and social and emotional loneliness.As the level of smartphone addiction increased, the level of social and emotional loneliness increased.It is recommended to implement programs to fight smartphone addiction to protect and promote the psychological health of university students.