ABSTRACT
Background: Adolescents are likely to quickly adopt newer technologies and face detrimental effects of the same. Aim: This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of problematic smartphone and social media use among school-going adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted amongst class 8-10 students. Data were collected using an anonymous survey in English which included (a) sociodemographic information, (b) pattern of smartphone use and smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV), and (c) pattern of social media use and social media disorder (SMD) scale. Educative session on responsible smartphone use was followed by post-session data collection which included patient health questionnaire (PHQ-2), generalized anxiety questionnaire (GAD-2), hyperactivity subscale of strength and difficulty questionnaire (SDQ), and conscientiousness and emotional stability subscales of ten-item personality inventory questionnaire (TIPI) and post-session feedback. Results: Three hundred and twenty out of 325 responses were analyzed (180 male and 140 female). About 8% (n = 27) used smartphone for more than four hours. Prevalence of problematic smartphone use was 12.5% and problematic social media use was 11.9%. Problematic smartphone use was associated with duration of smartphone use per day and problematic social media use, which was in turn found to be associated with Facebook use and frequency of Instagram posts. About 80.6% (n = 256) participants agreed that such sessions should be conducted in schools. Conclusions: One in ten school going adolescents are likely to be having problematic smartphone and social media use. Awareness sessions in schools about responsible mobile phone use may be an acceptable strategy.
