The association between smartphone usage at bedtime after light out on sleep quality and distractibility among medical and paramedical students
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: The usage of mobile phones in India has increased exponentially. Poor sleep quality among students has been reported with increasing hours of usage of mobile per day. An increase in bedtime smartphone use makes participants at great risk of having poor sleep quality. The use of cell phones after light-out reduces the quality and quantity of sleep, leading to sleep disturbances and poor sleep quality. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the association between smartphone usage after light out on sleep quality and the incidence of headache, tiredness, insomnia and distractibility among medical and paramedical students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical and paramedical students aged between 19 and 24 years. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among students using a Google Form survey. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms that affected personal life and academic performance and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) to assess sleep quality. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 25 software. Results: Out of 352 students, the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 62% by PSQI global score. We found that there was a statistically significant association between poor sleep quality and the occurrence of headache (P<0.05), and there was a highly statistically significant association between poor sleep quality and the occurrence of insomnia, tiredness, loss of energy and distractibility (P<0.001). Conclusion: The usage of smartphones after light out by medical students for Instagram or Facebook was associated with several forms of sleep disorders. Furthermore, it increases the symptoms that affect the academic activities during day time. The higher the usage, it will affect the quality and quantity of sleep, leading to sleep disturbance.
Authors: Suresh M, Fathima Fazna P, Sheeba PD
Language: English
Topic: Sleep and related disorders
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $200
OpenAlex ID: W7204712210
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