The Influence of Smartphone Use on Psychological Distress in University Undergraduates

Background: Smartphone use has been shown to have effects on psychological health outcomes. There is evidence that the psychological effects of smartphones on young people are significant. It is associated with anxiety, depression, and psychological distress in various populations. The tendency to spend cumulatively long durations exposed to smartphones is an emerging phenomenon among university undergraduates. This study aimed at determining the relationship between smartphone use and psychological distress in university undergraduates. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from ۳,۳۲۵ undergraduates of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria in September ۲۰۲۱ using a Sociodemographic proforma, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short version, and psychological distress was measured using the ۱۲-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ۱۲). Data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۳. Results: The mean age of respondents was ۲۱.۳+۲.۵۹ years, and ۱۸۳۵ (۵۵.۲%) of them were females. In addition, ۳۳۰۵ (۹۹.۴%) owned smartphones, and ۷۲۰ (۲۱.۷%) had more than one smartphone. Psychological distress was present in ۱۰۹۷ smartphone users (۳۳.۲%). The level of study (P=۰.۰۰۲), presence of problematic smartphone use (PSU, P<۰.۰۰۱), total time spent on the phone per day (P=۰.۰۱۴), and the time spent on social media per day (P<۰.۰۰۱), as well as leaving the phone data on all day (P=۰.۰۰۱) and engaging in overnight calls or social media chats (P<۰.۰۲۶), Facebook (P=۰.۰۰۱), WeChat (P=۰.۰۰۱), and Snapchat (P=۰.۰۰۱), were significantly associated with psychological distress. Independent predictors of psychological distress were being in year ۵ (OR=۰.۵۴۸, P=۰.۰۰۸), presence of PSU (OR=۱.۵۸۶, P<۰.۰۰۱), switching on phone data throughout the day (OR=۱.۳۸۸, P<۰.۰۰۱), and use of WeChat (OR=۱.۴۵۱, P<۰.۰۲۷) and Facebook (OR=۰.۷۰۳, P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that important smartphone-related indices such as PSU, switching on phone data access all day, and WeChat were predictive of increased levels of psychological distress. Structured counselling about the productive use of smartphones should be administered in the early years of study for university undergraduates.