Use of mobile phones by youth regarding the potential health consequences – a survey study

Maksymowicz Marcela, Machowiec Piotr Artur, Ręka Gabriela, Niemirski Dominik, Piecewicz-Szczęsna Halina. Use of mobile phones by youth regarding the potential health consequences – a survey study. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2020;10(12):107-117. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2020.10.12.010

https://apcz.umk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/JEHS/article/view/JEHS.2020.10.12.010

https://zenodo.org/record/4319888

 

 

 

 

 

The journal has had 5 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. § 8. 2) and § 12. 1. 2) 22.02.2019.

© The Authors 2020;

This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

 

Received: 23.11.2020. Revised: 30.11.2020. Accepted: 13.12.2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use of mobile phones by youth regarding the potential health consequences – a survey study

 

Marcela Maksymowicz¹, Piotr Artur Machowiec¹, Gabriela Ręka¹, Dominik Niemirski¹,

Halina Piecewicz-Szczęsna²

 

¹Marcela Maksymowicz

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2611-1609

marcela.maksymowicz@gmail.com

 

¹Piotr Artur Machowiec

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5418-0110

piotr.machowiec1997@gmail.com

 

¹Gabriela Ręka

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9728-5281

gabrysia.reka@gmail.com

 

¹Dominik Niemirski

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1582-6975

dominikniemirski96@gmail.com

 

²Halina Piecewicz-Szczęsna

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0573-7226

halpiec@gmail.com

 

¹Students’ Scientific Association of Chair and Department of Epidemiology and Clinical

Research Methodology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin,

Poland

²Chair and Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Research Methodology, Medical

University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland

 

Abstract

Introduction and purpose of work: The widespread availability and multi-functionality of mobile phones among young people cause that these devices are used not only for communication, but also for entertainment, learning, and remote work. However, excessive and unconscious use of mobile phones can adversely affect health through addiction and the FOMO – fear of missing out syndrome, resulting in lower self-esteem, depression, learning difficulties, and sleep problems.

Material and method: The material was collected using the diagnostic survey method. The study involved 451 people aged 10-25, divided into three age groups: 10-15, 16-19, and 20-25. The results were compared with the literature from the last 5 years available on the PubMed database.

Results: Mobile phones are mainly used for communicating on social networks, listening to music, taking photos, education, and organizational matters. The majority (70.0%) of respondents admit using the telephone while eating alone, more than half (54.0%) at school or during university activities, and about one fifth (21.3%) of people while driving, cycling, riding scooter, or skateboarding. More than half of the users use the telephone in the toilet, 52.1% of which disinfect the telephone. The average time of using a mobile phone is 2-4 hours a day, but among people aged 16-19 and in the female group it is higher, over 4 hours a day. Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost three-quarters (73.3%) of respondents have been using phones more frequently. In addition, there is a significant relationship between longer telephone use and the occurrence of neck pain and problems with falling asleep.

Conclusions: Nowadays, mobile phones are a helpful and convenient tool for study, work, organization, or entertainment, especially among young people during COVID-19 pandemic. However, its excessive use may have a detrimental effect on sleep, while in situations requiring concentration such as learning or driving, it can result in distraction. Careful use of the mobile phone including limiting the time spent on phone applications is essential to prevent inappropriate habits and adolescents’ addiction to phones.

 

Key words: mobile phone, addiction, mental health, youth