Smartphone Usage Sleep Quality and Behavioral Health in Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study from Eastern India.

BACKGROUND

Widespread smartphone use has raised concerns regarding its effects on adolescent health, particularly sleep quality and behavioral outcomes. The associations between smartphone usage patterns, sleep disturbances, and markers of obesity and vision health have yet to be systematically evaluated in India.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of smartphone usage, bedtime usage patterns, and their association with sleep quality, overweight status, and visual acuity among adolescents in Eastern India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 adolescents aged 13-19 years attending urban and rural schools in Eastern India. Participants completed a structured questionnaire covering demographics, daily and bedtime smartphone use, and sleep quality. Sleep quality was assessed using a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and smartphone addiction was estimated using behavioral proxies. Chi-square tests were employed to assess associations, and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 16.8 ± 1.9 years, with 55% male participants and 70% from urban areas. Smartphone usage at bedtime was reported by 89.3% of participants, and 42.1% reported poor sleep quality. Longer bedtime smartphone use (>30 minutes) was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (χ2 = 42.5, p < 0.001). Daily usage exceeding 2 hours was significantly associated with overweight status (χ2 = 21.9, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A high prevalence of bedtime smartphone use among adolescents in Eastern India is significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Excessive daily smartphone use is also linked with overweight status. Public health strategies should include digital hygiene awareness and school-based interventions.