Publication:

The association between smartphone usage patterns, sleep quality, and academic performance among medical students in Punjab: a cross-sectional study

Background This study aimed to examine the prevalence of smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality among MBBS students in Punjab, Pakistan, and to investigate their associations with academic performance (CGPA%).

Methods Between December 2024 and May 2025, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to 280 MBBS students at medical colleges in Punjab. Participants completed the Smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS SV) to assess addictive smartphone behaviours and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality. Academic performance was self-reported as cumulative grade point average percentage (CGPA%). Associations were tested using chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square test for trend as appropriate.

Results Fifty one percent of students met criteria for smartphone addiction, with mean SAS SV scores of 32.15±12.13 for males and 31.33±12.31 for females (p=0.76), indicating no significant gender difference. Eighty percent of participants exhibited poor sleep quality (mean PSQI 7.43±3.33). There was a significant association between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality (p=0.027). Smartphone addiction was also modestly associated with lower CGPA% (U=8535.5, p=0.026, r=0.13).

Conclusions High rates of smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality were observed among MBBS students, and these factors were significantly correlated. Smartphone addiction was also modestly linked to academic performance. These findings underscore the need for institutional interventions to target smartphone overuse and improve sleep hygiene to safeguard students’ health and grades.