Prevalence and associated factors of smartphone addiction among caregivers of children with physical disabilities in Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Smartphone addiction is an emerging public health concern, particularly among caregivers experiencing chronic stress. Caregivers of children with physical disabilities may be especially vulnerable, yet research on this topic in low-resource settings like Nepal is scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smartphone addiction and identify its sociodemographic, psychological, and social determinants among caregivers of children with physical disabilities.

METHODS

A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at the country's only specialized pediatric rehabilitation center in Nepal, a national referral hub providing comprehensive care for children with physical disabilities. Consecutive sampling was used to recruit 227 primary caregivers. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥18 years, primary responsibility for the child's daily care, and ability to complete a structured questionnaire. Exclusion criteria included caregivers with severe cognitive impairments or acute illness preventing participation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations between smartphone addiction and participant characteristics.

RESULTS

In this sample of 227 caregivers, 62.1% (n=141) screened above the SAS-SV risk threshold for problematic smartphone use. Significant determinants identified in multivariable logistic regression included female gender (AOR=5.83, 95% CI 1.58-21.45, p=0.008), unemployment (AOR=19.17, 95% CI 1.14-323.85, p=0.041), ethnicity (Brahmin/Chhetri: AOR=0.009, 95% CI 0.000-0.234, p=0.005; Janajati: AOR=0.015, 95% CI 0.001-0.420, p=0.014), chronic illness (AOR=0.009, 95% CI 0.000-0.514, p=0.022), frequent headaches (AOR=0.004, 95% CI 0.000-0.093, p<0.001), and occasional eye strain (AOR=0.081, 95% CI 0.009-0.748, p=0.027).

CONCLUSION

In this sample, a high proportion of caregivers screened at risk for problematic smartphone use, with female gender and unemployment associated with higher adjusted odds. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating, and further longitudinal research is needed before screening or intervention strategies can be recommended.