Correlation of Screen Time with Neck Pain, Sleep Quality, and Stress among University Students

Abstract

Background: In the digital age, university students are increasingly reliant on electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets for academic, social, and recreational purposes. The widespread adoption of digital devices has dramatically transformed the lifestyle of university students, making screen time an unavoidable aspect of daily academic and recreational activities. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the correlation of screen time with neck pain, sleep quality and stress among university students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from university students of university of Lahore. 189 participants was by convenient sampling technique criteria. Data was collected by Neck Disability Index (NDI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess neck pain, stress, and sleep quality, respectively. Results: This study examined the impact of screen time on neck pain, stress, and sleep quality among 189 college students (mean age = 23.66 years; 55% female). Most participants were from a middle socioeconomic background (73.5%). Mean scores were 21.3 for the Neck Disability Index (NDI), 20.1 for the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and 6.2 for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Conclusion: This study found a significant association between increased screen time and adverse outcomes in university students. Higher screen time was correlated with greater neck pain, elevated stress levels, and poorer sleep quality. The majority of students used screens primarily for social media, often exceeding 5 hours daily.

Keywords: Neck Pain, Screen Time, Sleep Quality, Perceived Stress