The association of smartphone use and addiction with neck pain, neck disability, physical activity, forward head posture, cervical range of motion, and neck muscle endurance in female college students

This study aimed to investigate the relationships among duration of smartphone use, screen time, smartphone addiction, pain, cervical disability, physical activity, forward head posture, cervical range of motion, and cervical muscle endurance in female college students. This cross-sectional observational study included 63 university students with a mean age of 21.36 ± 1.71 years. Smartphone addiction was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version. Cervical disability, neck pain severity, and physical activity level were evaluated using the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale, Visual Analog Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, respectively. Forward posture, cervical range of motion, and cervical muscle endurance were also assessed. The mean daily smartphone usage time was 6.09 ± 2.12 h, and the mean screen time was 6.01 ± 2.26 h. Smartphone usage time ( r = 0.243, p = 0.039) and screen time ( r = 0.294, p = 0.015) were positively correlated with cervical flexor muscle endurance. Smartphone addiction was positively associated with forward head posture while sitting ( r = 0.272, p = 0.014) and while standing ( r = 0.363, p = 0.001), and with cervical disability ( r = 0.388, p = 0.002). Smartphone addiction may be more closely associated with forward head posture, cervical disability, and specific limitations in cervical range of motion than smartphone use alone is. These findings highlight the importance of considering problematic smartphone use when evaluating cervical musculoskeletal health in female college students. Not applicable.