Smartphone addiction negatively affects balance, attention, sleep quality, and quality of life
Emre Söylemez1, Mehmet Dag2, Ahmet Duha Koc3, Zehra Aydogan4, Serdar Ensari5
1Karabük Üniversitesi, Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu, Odyometri Bölümü, Karabük, Türkiye.
2Karabük Üniversitesi, Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu, Karabük, Türkiye.
3Karabük Üniversitesi, Sağlık Yönetimi Bölümü, Karabük, Türkiye.
4Ankara Üniversitesi, Odyoloji Bölümü, Ankara, Türkiye
5Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
Keywords: Attention, balance, quality of life, smartphone.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of excessive smartphone use on attention, balance, sleep quality, and quality of life.
METHODS: This prospective study was conducted with 77 individuals (59 females, 18 males; mean age: 21.4±5.4 years; range, 17 to 43 years) between September 2024 and January 2025. Participants were divided into two groups according to the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS): low smartphone use (LSU) and excessive smartphone use (ESU). One-leg standing test (OLST), functional reaching test (FRT), Stroop test (TBAG form), timed up and go (TUG) test, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were administered to both groups.
RESULTS: The mean SAS score was 100.87±30.00 (range, 50 to 158). The mean SAS score of females was higher than those of males (p<0.001). There was no difference between the groups in terms of eyes open OLST, FRT, and TUG test (p<0.05). The eyes closed OLST score, the Stroop 4 score, the sleep quality, and all subscale scores of SF-36 were worse in the ESU group than in the LSU group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Excessive smartphone use negatively affects balance, attention, sleep quality, and quality of life. Limiting smartphone use, particularly in children and teenagers, is essential to prevent these issues.