Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Health Care

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Effects of Excessive Usage of Electronic Gadgets during COVID-19 Lockdown on Health of College Students: An Online Cross-Sectional Study


Affiliations
1 Post Graduation Student, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
2 Assistant Professor, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
 

The use of electronic gadgets, especially mobile phones among youth, has been a growing global concern. The worldwide COVID-19 lockdown has only amplified the issue. The extended period of lockdown and virtual classes has increased college students' time on their electronic gadgets. The debilitating health effect of excessive usage of gadgets has been well established. There are an array of effects like headache, nausea, ophthalmological concerns and psychological outcomes associated with gadget use for extended periods. The study aims to understand the difference in time spent using gadgets before and during the lockdown and the associated health impacts. The study included 348 participants (n=348), consisting of 183 female and 165 male participants. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire through Google forms from college students after obtaining consent. The results suggested that the average time spent on gadgets increased from 4.75hrs/day before lockdown to 11.36hrs/day during lockdown among participants. Most health complaints like headaches, insomnia, eye complaints, tiredness and restlessness were associated with gadget use during the lockdown. The percentage of participants experiencing these complaints during lockdown was also significantly higher than before lockdown. By understanding the effects of gadget use, it would be possible to create interventions and suggest ways to manage the excessive use of gadgets. It is of prime importance to handle the issue considering the quality of life and wellbeing of students.

Keywords

COVID-19, Excessive Use Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Wellbeing
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Ganganahalli P, Tondare MB, Durgawale PM. Use of electronic gadgets among medical students in Western Maharashtra, India. Int J Health Sci. 2014;(9):5.

  • Kumar LR, Chii KD, Way LC, Jetly Y, Rajendaran V. Awareness of mobilephone hazards among university students in a Malaysian Medical School. Health (NY). 2011;3(07):406. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2011.37068

  • Kraut R, Patterson M, Lundmark V, Kiesler S, Mukophadhyay T, Scherlis W. Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? Am Psychol. 1998;53 (9):1017. PMid:9841579. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003066X.53.9.1017

  • Lee DH. Women's creation of camera phone culture. Fibreculture J. 2005; 6:1–11.

  • Revathi KS, Nair S, Achuthan A. Influence of technological gadgets on health and lifestyle of medico. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2020; 10(3):201–5.

  • Esen BK, Gundogdu M. The relationship between internet addiction, peer pressure and perceived social support among adolescents. Int J Educ Res. 2010; 2(1):29–36.

  • Simuforosa M. The impact of modern technology on the educational attainment of adolescents. Int J Educ Res. 2013; 1(9):1–8.

  • Stalin P, Abraham SB, Kanimozhy K, Prasad RV, Singh Z, Purty AJ. Mobile phone usage and its health effects among adults in a semi-urban area of Southern India. J Clin Diagn Res JCDR. 2016;10(1):LC14. PMid:26894095 PMCid:PMC4740623. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2 016/16576.7074

  • Sanudo B, Fennell C, Sanchez-Oliver AJ. Objectivelyassessed physical activity, sedentary behavior, smartphone use, and sleep patterns pre-and duringCOVID-19 quarantine in young adults from Spain. Sustainability. 2020;12(15):5890. https://doi.org/10.339 0/su12155890

  • Khan AR, Zaman N, Muzafar S. Health hazards linked to using mobile cellular phones. J Inf Commun Technol JICT. 2008; 2(2):8.

  • Roberts J, Yaya L, Manolis C. The invisible addiction: Cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students. J Behav Addict. 2014; 3(4):254– 65. PMid:25595966 PMCid:PMC4291831. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.015

  • The Lancet. India under COVID-19 lockdown. Lancet Lond Engl. 2020; 395(10233):1315. https://doi.org/10.1 016/S0140-6736(20)30938-7

  • Kamaruddin PSNM, Nawi AM. Smartphone usage and pattern on self-reported symptoms among medical students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia during the COVID-19 lockdown. In Review; 2020 Sep [cited 2020 Sep 11].https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-67820/v1

  • Sun S, Folarin AA, Ranjan Y, Rashid Z, Conde P, Stewart C, Cummins N, Matcham F, Dalla Costa G, Simblett S, Leocani L. Using smartphones and wearable devices to monitor behavioral changes during COVID-19. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2020;22(9):e19992. PMid:32877352 PMCid:PMC7527031. https://doi.org/10.2196/19992

  • Shenoy V, Mahendra S, Vijay N. COVID-19 lockdown technology adaption, teaching, learning, students engagement and faculty experience. Mukt Shabd Journal. 2020 Apr;9(4):698–702.

  • Agrawal S, Sharma N, Singh M. Employing CBPR to understand the well-being of higher education students during COVID-19 lockdown in India. SSRN Electron J.

  • Gupta N, Krishnamurthy V, Majhi J, Gupta S. Gadget dependency among medical college students in Delhi. Indian J Community Health. 2013; 25(4):362–6.

  • Dixit S, Shukla H, Bhagwat A, Bindal A, Goyal A, Zaidi AK, et al. A study to evaluate mobile phone dependence among students of a medical college and associated hospital of Central India. Indian J Community Med Off Publ Indian Assoc Prev Soc Med. 2010 Apr; 35(2):339–41. PMid:20922119 PMCid:PMC2940198. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.66878

  • Meo SA, Al-Drees AM. Mobile phone related-hazards and subjective hearing and vision symptoms in the Saudi population. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2005; 18(1):53–7.

  • Kumar A, Sherkhane M. Assessment of gadgets addiction and its impact on health among undergraduates. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. 2018 Aug; 5(8):3624–8. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20183109


Abstract Views: 262

PDF Views: 101




  • Effects of Excessive Usage of Electronic Gadgets during COVID-19 Lockdown on Health of College Students: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Views: 262  |  PDF Views: 101

Authors

Tamilselvan Pachiyappan
Post Graduation Student, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
Kousalya V. Kumar
Post Graduation Student, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
Preethi Mark
Post Graduation Student, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
Ragukumar Venugopal
Post Graduation Student, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
Divya Jilumudi
Post Graduation Student, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India
Bharathi Palanisamy
Assistant Professor, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur– 603203, Chennai, India

Abstract


The use of electronic gadgets, especially mobile phones among youth, has been a growing global concern. The worldwide COVID-19 lockdown has only amplified the issue. The extended period of lockdown and virtual classes has increased college students' time on their electronic gadgets. The debilitating health effect of excessive usage of gadgets has been well established. There are an array of effects like headache, nausea, ophthalmological concerns and psychological outcomes associated with gadget use for extended periods. The study aims to understand the difference in time spent using gadgets before and during the lockdown and the associated health impacts. The study included 348 participants (n=348), consisting of 183 female and 165 male participants. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire through Google forms from college students after obtaining consent. The results suggested that the average time spent on gadgets increased from 4.75hrs/day before lockdown to 11.36hrs/day during lockdown among participants. Most health complaints like headaches, insomnia, eye complaints, tiredness and restlessness were associated with gadget use during the lockdown. The percentage of participants experiencing these complaints during lockdown was also significantly higher than before lockdown. By understanding the effects of gadget use, it would be possible to create interventions and suggest ways to manage the excessive use of gadgets. It is of prime importance to handle the issue considering the quality of life and wellbeing of students.

Keywords


COVID-19, Excessive Use Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Wellbeing

References