Background
In the past few years, there has been a growing attention to smartphone addictions. Various studies conducted within the past decade have analyzed the harmful effects of smartphone overuse on university students including medical students.
Objective
This cross-sectional study on 780 students estimated the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its associated factors in medical students of Mansoura University, Egypt.
Patients and methods
A self-administered questionnaire was completed to gather data about Problematic Use of Mobile Phones scale, sociodemographic characteristics, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, Insomnia Severity Index, and feeling of loneliness (UCLA) questionnaire.
Results
The overall prevalence of smartphone addiction was 53.6%. The significant independent predictors of smartphone addiction are studying less than or equal to 4 h [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.6], mild/moderate and severe/extreme severe depression (AOR=2.5 and 3.4, respectively), and severe/extreme severe stress (AOR=2.1).
Conclusion
Smartphone addiction is common among medical students and closely related to psychological problems.