Study Finds 42% of Dental Students Spend 8 Hours Daily on Smartphones

INDIA: A recent study conducted among dental students in Hyderabad and Rangareddy district has revealed concerning trends regarding smartphone addiction. 

Published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, the study titled ‘Influence of Smartphone Addiction on Sleep and Mental Wellbeing among Dental Students’ sheds light on the pervasive nature of smartphone addiction among dental students. 

Led by researchers from the government dental college & hospital in Hyderabad, including Turaga Sai Susmitha, S Jagadeeswara Rao, and Dolar Doshi, the study surveyed 427 undergraduate dental students.

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Addiction and its Correlation with Sleep and Mental Wellbeing

The study found that 42% of participants were addicted to smartphones, primarily driven by social networking. These addicts tended to use smartphones more at night, leading to poor sleep quality and decreased mental wellbeing. 

According to the researchers, addiction to smartphones significantly affected the daily lives of dental students, with addicts spending 6 to 8 hours per day on their devices. This excessive usage resulted in disruptions to daily routines and withdrawal symptoms, including difficulty concentrating and physical discomfort.

Gender Disparity and Reasons for Smartphone Usage

Despite a higher percentage of female participants (79%), addiction levels did not significantly differ by gender. Social networking emerged as the primary reason for smartphone usage among addicts (44%), while non-addicts preferred phone calls and text messages (37.5%). The study underscores the detrimental impact of smartphone addiction on the lives of dental students and highlights the urgent need to address this issue.

As dental students grapple with the challenges posed by excessive smartphone usage, the findings of this study serve as a wake-up call for educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to implement strategies aimed at mitigating smartphone addiction and promoting healthy habits among students.

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