Publication:

Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its association with depression, anxiety among university students, Baghdad 2023

Background Smartphones have simplified our lives and become essential, yet excessive usage may lead to "smartphone addiction". Global youth smartphone addiction is a growing public health concern. Research examines smartphone addiction, depression, anxiety, and depression among university of Baghdad medical and non-medical students. Compare 2 student groups' smartphone addiction rates. Correlate smartphone addiction, anxiety, and depression.

Methods Comparative cross-sectional research included 383 university of Baghdad students from four colleges. The research included undergraduate university students for a random sampling. From March to June 2023, the smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV), Beck's depression inventory (BDI), Beck's anxiety inventory (BAI), and sociodemographic were self-reported.

Results This survey comprised 383 students, 188 (49.1%) from medical institutions and 195 (50.9%) from non-medical colleges. Their ages varied from 18-25, with a mean of 20.8±1.8 years. Most were 20-21 (37.9%) and 260 (67.9%) females. According to SAS-SV cutoffs, 45.17% of medical students and 39.5% of non-medical students were smartphone addicts. Depression affected 38.37% of individuals, ranging from mild (10.7%) to moderate (17.75%) to severe-very severe (9.92%). Survey revealed 50.65% had little anxiety, 31.07 moderate anxiety, and 18.28% severe anxiety. Smartphone addiction significantly correlated with anxiety (p=0.0001) and sadness (p=0.008). Smartphone addiction, anxiety (r=0.29), and depression (r=0.25), among research participants, were positively correlated.

Conclusions Smartphone addiction was common among study participants, with medical college students being more hooked than non-medical students. Smartphone addiction is correlated with anxiety and despair. Smartphone addiction predicted anxiety and despair.