RELATION BETWEEN SMARTPHONE USAGE ADDICTION AND TEXT NECK SYNDROME IN STUDENTS OF LAHORE INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Background: The young generation increasingly relies on handheld devices, with 79% of people aged 18-44 carrying their phones almost all the time. Text neck syndrome, caused by prolonged head movement while using handheld devices, can lead to headaches, neck pain, and shoulder and arm pain.

Aim: To assess the relationship between smartphone addiction and neck pain in university students in Lahore.

Methodology: This correlational study was carried out at the Lahore Institute of Science and Technology, Lahore. The convenience sampling technique involved 81 students based on inclusion and exclusion criteria in the study aged 18- 25. All participants were informed about the study details and their approval was taken then they were requested to fill out a consent form along with demographic data and the questionnaires SAS-SV and NDI. Statistical analysis of data was accomplished by the SPSS version 23. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to correlate between SAS-SV and NDI.

Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between SAS-SV and NDI with p-value <0.01 and positive r-values of 0.573 indicating a direct relation between smartphone addiction and neck pain.

Conclusion: This study revealed that there was a direct relationship between smartphone addiction and neck disability as smartphone usage time increases the chance of neck pain or discomfort increases and vice versa.