Association Between Screen Time and Musculoskeletal Pain Among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from SRM Medical College, Tamil Nadu.

BACKGROUND

The rapid proliferation of smartphone use among young adults has raised concerns about its impact on physical health, particularly musculoskeletal pain. Prolonged screen time and poor ergonomic habits have been linked to discomfort in the neck, shoulders, wrists, and elbows.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal pain among university students in India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students aged 18-26 who used digital devices for a minimum of 3 h daily. Participants were assessed using validated tools, including the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ). Data were collected via Google Forms and analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of 321 respondents, those with high SAS-SV scores (>40) showed a significantly higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the neck (85%), wrists/hands (62.5%), and shoulders (50%) compared to low usage groups (P < 0.05). Functional impairments in academic activities were also more frequent in the high usage group, particularly due to neck (27.5%) and wrist/hand pain (20.0%). Females and dental students reported a higher incidence of neck and wrist discomfort.

CONCLUSION

Excessive smartphone use is significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain and functional impairment among young adults. These findings underscore the urgent need for ergonomic education, behavioral interventions, and further longitudinal research to mitigate the health risks of prolonged screen exposure in university populations.