Smartphone Addiction in University Students

NCT06968078 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Karabuk-004
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 105
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Smartphone usage has increased significantly in the last decade and smartphones have changed our lives to a great extent. Smartphone usage has advantages as well as disadvantages and therefore brings phone addiction with it. Smartphone addiction is defined as excessive use of smartphones to the extent that it disturbs the daily lives of users. It has been stated in the literature that phone addiction can cause some disorders in individuals. Changes in neck posture and balance may be among the symptoms affected in this context. However, the relationship between excessive smartphone usage and neck proprioception, angle and balance is not clear in the literature. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction and neck angle, proprioception and balance.

Conditions

Smartphone Addiction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Smartphone addiction scale

  It will be evaluated with The Smartphone Addiction Scale. The scale consists of 33 questions and is scored between 33-198. The higher the score, the higher the addiction.

  Baseline

• Neck posture

  Neck posture will be evaluated using neck angle. The craniocervical angle of individuals will be evaluated using a photographic method.

  Baseline

• Neck proprioception

  It will be evaluated with CROM. The deviation angle from 30 degrees will be recorded for flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion and rotation. As the deviation angle increases, proprioception worsens.

  Baseline

• Body balance

  Balance will be assessed with static posturography. With static posturography, participants will be subjected to open and closed eyes on hard and soft surfaces. In this way, the static balance skills of the participants will be determined.

  Baseline

• Dizziness imbalance

  It will be evaluated with the Vertigo Dizziness Imbalanca-Symptom Scale. The scale consists of 14 items and is scored between 0-70. Lower scores indicate high symptom frequency.

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

smartphone addict

It will consist of individuals identified as addicted according to the smartphone addiction scale.

Normal

It will consist of individuals who are normally determined according to the smartphone addiction survey.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals who use smartphones and do not have any chronic diseases will be included in the study.

You may qualify if:

• Between the ages of 18-45
• Having a smartphone
• Volunteer to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals reporting orthopaedic, neurological, psychiatric and otological diseases will not be included in the study.
• Also, individuals with diagnosed vertigo will not be included in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karabuk University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Karabuk University, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Application and Research Center

Karabük, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Alhazmi AA, Alzahrani SH, Baig M, Salawati EM, Alkatheri A. Prevalence and factors associated with smartphone addiction among medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. Pak J Med Sci. 2018 Jul-Aug;34(4):984-988. doi: 10.12669/pjms.344.15294.

  PMID: 30190766 BACKGROUND

• Kumar VA, Chandrasekaran V, Brahadeeswari H. Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its effects on sleep quality: A cross-sectional study among medical students. Ind Psychiatry J. 2019 Jan-Jun;28(1):82-85. doi: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_56_19. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

  PMID: 31879452 BACKGROUND

• Gunes M, Soylemez E, Apaydin AS. The impact of excessive smartphone use on imbalance symptoms: The role of craniovertebral angle and cervical proprioception. Work. 2026 Mar 17:10519815261432597. doi: 10.1177/10519815261432597. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41841467 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Internet Addiction Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Musa Gunes

  Karabuk University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Emre Söylemez, PhD

  Karabuk University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Aydın Sinan Apaydın, PhD

  Karabuk University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 4, 2025
• First Posted: May 13, 2025
• Study Start: May 4, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 15, 2025
• Study Completion: November 15, 2025
• Last Updated: April 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)