Associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones / 环境与职业医学

Background Experimental studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones can cause adverse effects on male reproductive health, including decreased semen quality and altered sex hormones. However, the results of epidemiological studies on the relationship between mobile phone use and male semen quality are inconsistent. Furthermore, there are few epidemiological studies on the association of mobile phone use with sex hormones. Objective To explore the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones. Methods A total of 2045 men visited the reproductive medicine center of a hospital in Wuhan and ordered infertility examination were recruited from December 2018 to January 2020. Information on mobile phone use was obtained using a questionnaire. Among them, 1232 and 1694 men were eligible for semen quality analyses and sex hormone analyses, respectively. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, there was no statistically significant associations of mobile phone use with sperm progressive motility, sperm total motility, sperm concentration, sperm count, or serum luteinizing hormone (P>0.05). However, serum total testosterone showed a declined tendency with increasing daily duration of mobile phone use (Ptrend=0.08). Compared with men with daily mobile phone use of 0-2 h, men with daily mobile phone use of 2.1-5, 5.1-8, and >8 h showed decreased serum total testosterone concentrations by 6.29% (95%CI: 0.40%-11.84%), 6.01% (95%CI: 0.60%-12.19%), and 7.87% (95%CI: 0.40%-14.79%), respectively. Conclusion Mobile phone use is not associated with male semen quality and serum luteinizing hormone, but increasing daily duration of mobile phone use is potentially associated with a tendency to lower male serum total testosterone.

The Phubbing Scale (PS-8) in the Portuguese population: psychometric properties

Phubbing is defined as ignoring other individuals by using a mobile phone during a face-to-face conversation. The Phubbing Scale (PS) was developed to assess this practice. In this study, we analyze the psychometric properties of the 8-item version of the PS (PS-8) in the Portuguese population, providing validity evidence based on internal structure and on relationships with other variables, and examining item properties, reliability, and measurement invariance across gender. Participants were 391 Portuguese adults (132 men, 259 women) who completed a battery of questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices for the two-factor structure (communication disturbance and phone obsession), which was invariant across gender. Item homogeneity and reliability of factor scores (McDonald's omega) were satisfactory. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables was provided by positive associations with time spent on the Internet on weekdays and at the weekend, time spent on social networking sites, number of social networks used, Internet addiction, problematic mobile phone use, Facebook intrusion, fear of missing out, and depression. These associations show the addictive component of phubbing and its relationship with mental health. The PS-8 is a short and easy-to-administer scale with adequate psychometric properties for measuring phubbing in the Portuguese population. (AU)

Mediating effect of life satisfaction between child neglect and problematic mobile phone use of middle school students / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore whether life satisfaction has a mediating effect between child neglect and middle school student’ problematic mobile phone use.Methods:Totally 1 692 middle school students from four middle schools of Xiamen in June 2020 were selected by cluster stratified sampling.The self-rating questionnaire for adolescent problematic mobile phone use (SQAPMPU), child neglect scale (CNS) and quality of life scale for children and adolescents (QLSCA) were used for the survey. SPSS 23.0 software was used for descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis and the mediating effect analysis.Results:The scores of CNS, QLSCA and SQAPMPU were (24.45±14.28), (134.44±19.34), (23.20±8.94)respectively.And the detection rate of problematic mobile phone use was 23.6%. There were significant differences in the scores of SQAPMPU scale in different grades, father's education degrees, mother's education degrees and monthly pocket money(all P<0.05). In SQAPMPU, high school students scored significantly higher than junior school students( t=-2.403, P=0.016), adolescents with undergrate education of their father and mother scored the lowest( F=3.411, P=0.017; F=2.729, P=0.043), adolescents with monthly pocket money of "500-1 000" and "1 000-2 000" scored significantly higher than those with monthly pocket money of "under 500". The total scores and sub scores of child neglect were significantly positively correlated with the total scores and sub scores of problematic mobile phone use ( r=0.177-0.360, all P<0.05). The total scores and sub scores of life satisfaction were significantly negative correlated with the total scores and sub scores of problematic mobile phone use ( r==-0.508--0.250, all P<0.05). Child neglect had a positive predictive effect on problematic mobile phone use ( t=15.598, R2=0.130, P<0.05), but had a negative predictive effect on life satisfaction ( t=-27.798, R2=0.321, P<0.05). There were the part intermediary role of life satisfaction between child neglect and problematic mobile phone use( t=-13.937, R2=0.222, P<0.05), and the mediating effect accounted for 58.29% of the total effect. Conclusion:The neglected experience in childhood of adolescents not only can directly affect problematic mobile phone use, but also can affect the problematic mobile phone use by affecting life satisfaction.

Problematic Mobile Phone Use Among Undergraduate Medical Students and Its Impact on Sleep Quality and Sleep Pattern

@#Introduction: Sleep deprivation is a concern in young adults and the use of mobile phone is very common in this population. This study aimed to measure and correlate the sleep quality, pattern of sleep and problematic mobile phone use in young medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Problematic Mobile Phone Use Scale (PMPUS) and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) among medical students in a Malaysian medical college. Correlation among the variables was done using bi-variate analysis followed by Pearson correlation coefficient and 2-tailed significance. A level for p ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: We found significant positive correlation between poor sleep quality and total problematic mobile phone use as well as its sub dimensions, namely deprivation, adverse outcomes and control disorder. PSQI score showed significant negative correlation with different patterns of MEQ like moderate evening, late sleepers, moderate morning and early risers. Positive correlation of the PSQI with sub dimension of PMPUS reflects unhealthy dependency on mobile phone in this population. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the unhealthy use of mobile phone adversely affected sleep quality in the cohort of young medical students. It is thus important for medical schools to formulate policies and create educational programs vis-a-vis sleep health and to increase awareness regarding controlled mobile phone usage.

They do not just drive when they are driving: Distracted driving practices among professional vehicle drivers in South India

Driving is a complex task, requiring coordination between multiple mental and physical faculties. Distractions lead to delayed recognition of information needed to drive safely. It is essential to understand distracted driving practices to regulate them and reduce crash risk. This study aims to identify common distractors among professional vehicle drivers in South India. Methodology: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on professional drivers of three-and four-wheeled vehicles. Epicollect 5, a mobile-based data collection tool, was used for data collection and entry. Results: Among 82 male professional drivers (57.3% car, 35.4% bus/lorry), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 38.4 (10.6) years, all reported being distracted by at least one of the listed distractors. Mobile phone usage and cognitive distractions were reported by 75.6% and 79.3%, respectively. Younger drivers (P = 0.005) and those with less than a decade of driving experience (P = 0.038) were more likely to use mobiles while driving. Drivers reporting cognitive distractions were more likely to have met with an accident than those who did not (44.6% vs. 23.5%). Conclusions: Distracted driving is common among professional drivers. Cognitive distractions are as common as distractions due to mobile phones. Sensitization of drivers and strict enforcement of legislation are recommended.

Prevalence of nomophobia and factors associated with it: a cross-sectional study

Background: Excessive use of mobile phones, including smart phones, is found to result in various health related, social and psychological problems. Nomophobia expands to ‘No Mobile Phobia’, i.e., fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Previous studies on nomophobia have focused on the student populations, since the younger generation is more technology savvy. This questionnaire-based study aimed to know the prevalence and factors leading to nomophobia in general population.Methods: This study was conducted in western Gujarat from September 2018 to October 2018. A prevalidated questionnaire, containing three parts, the demographic details, details about the characteristics of mobile phone use and the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), was sent through emails and WhatsApp to 1000 individuals. The responses were tabulated and analyzed.Results: Out of 331 respondents 192 (58%) were males and 139 (42%) females. There was no significant difference in average NMP scores with respect to gender (p = 0.401), age brackets (p = 0.135), marital status (p = 0.123) and profession (p = 0.055). However, NMP scores were significantly more in individuals who spent more time on mobile phones per day (p = 0.000), checked their mobile phones more frequently (p<0.000) and in whom phantom ringing syndrome was also present (p<0.000). 241 respondents (72.80%) felt that their mobile phone use was consuming time and affecting their other daily activities.Conclusions: Nomophobia is an emerging health related adverse effect of prolonged mobile phone use. Interventions are required to promote judicious use of mobile phones.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Mobile Phone Ownership and Use in Korean Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVES: As public concern on possible harmful effects of mobile phone in children has been raised, information of epidemiological characteristics of mobile phone use in children and adolescents will be essential for public health policy. METHODS: Using three databases (n=21,693) collected from 2008 to 2011, we examined characteristics of mobile phone ownership and use, and socioeconomic positions (SEP) in Korean children and adolescents. RESULTS: The ownership rate and the amount of mobile phone use were higher in females than males, in higher school grades than lower grades, and at 2011 than 2008. The average age of first mobile phone ownership was shown to decrease from 12.5 years in currently high school students to 8.4 years in currently elementary school students at 2011. More than 90% of children in the 5th grade owned a mobile phone. More children owned a mobile phone in lower SEP communities than in higher SEP. Children with parents educated less than those with parents educated more were more likely to own and use mobile phone. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the epidemiological characteristics of mobile phone use, precautionary measures to prevent unnecessary exposure to mobile phones are needed in children and adolescents.