The Effects of Smartphone Usage on University Students

Abstract

This study examined the daily usage of smartphones by university students. The study utilised a questionnaire via Google form to elicit information from 106 tertiary level students that had agreed to participate in the research. The data obtained from the survey was compiled into tables to categorize the respondents into hours they had spent using their smartphones. A descriptive quantitative analysis was used to examine the findings in the study. Results indicate that too much time spent on smartphones late night affects students’ quality of sleep, which in turn affects students’ state of mind in the next day. In addition, it was found that students in the 18-30 age range are the ones most affected in their social interactions because of the reliance on smartphones. Findings also indicated that university students’ excessive smartphone use during the night  has negative effects on their well-being. They are unable to concentrate during lectures the following day, often feeling sleepy during the day, and face difficulties handling the day to day pressures, as well as, thinking rationally whenever problems occur. In addition, results also revealed that when university students rely too much on their mobile phones, they become anxious when their gadgets are not with them.  In short, students’ dependency on their smartphones affects them both physically and psychologically.