Author:
Naser Abdallah Y,Alwafi Hassan,Itani Rania,Alzayani Salman,Qadus Sami,Al-Rousan Rabaa,Abdelwahab Ghada Mohammad,Dahmash Eman,AlQatawneh Ahmad,Khojah Hani M J,Kautsar Angga Prawira,Alabbasi Renan,Alsahaf Nouf,Qutub Razan,Alrawashdeh Hamzeh Mohammad,Abukhalaf Amer Hamad Issa,Bahlol Mohamed
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Excessive use of mobile phones leading to development of symptoms suggestive of dependence syndrome with teenagers are far more likely to become dependent on mobile phones as compared to adults. COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of several groups in society, especially university students. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of mobile phone dependence among university students and its associated factors.
Methods
Between September 2021 and January 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted at universities in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia utilizing an online and paper-based self-administered questionnaire. We employed a previously developed questionnaire by Aggarwal et al.
Results
A total of 5,720 university students were involved in this study (Egypt = 2813, Saudi Arabia = 1509, Jordan = 766, Lebanon = 432, and Bahrain = 200). The mean estimated daily time spent on using mobile phone was 186.4 (94.4) minutes. The highest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Egypt and the lowest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Lebanon. The most common dependence criteria across the study sample was impaired control (55.6%) and the least common one was harmful use (25.1%). Females and those reported having anxiety problem or using a treatment for anxiety were at higher risk of developing mobile phone dependence by 15% and 75%, respectively.
Conclusion
Mobile phone dependence is common among university students in Arab countries in the Middle East region. Future studies exploring useful interventions to decrease mobile phone dependence are warranted.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
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