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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Sep 15;18(9):e0290724.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290724. eCollection 2023.

The relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep among medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mabel Qi He Leow  1 , Joelle Chiang  2 , Tiffany Jia Xuan Chua  3 , Sean Wang  3 , Ngiap Chuan Tan  1   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep among medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mabel Qi He Leow et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between smartphone addiction and sleep in medical students. The secondary outcomes included the prevalence of smartphone addiction, duration and purpose of its use, prevalence of poor sleep, duration and quality of sleep.

Methods: The authors searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases, from inception of each database to October 2022. Quantitative studies in the English language on smartphone addiction and sleep in students studying Western Medicine were included. The Rayyan application was used for title-abstract screening, and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist to assess the risk of bias. Heterogeneity tests and meta-synthesis of data were performed using the meta-package in R software. Data on the activities used on the smartphone was synthesized qualitatively.

Results: A total of 298 abstracts were initially assessed for inclusion eligibility: 16 of them were eventually appraised, covering 9466 medical students comprising 3781 (39.9%) males and 5161 (54.5%) females. Meta-correlation between the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was 0.30 (95%CI = 0.24-0.36), and 0.27 (95% CI = 0.18-0.36) for SAS-SV and sleep duration. The meta-analytic estimation of smartphone addiction prevalence was 39% (95%CI = 0.30-0.50), and score using SAS-SV was 31.11 (95%CI = 29.50-32.72). The mean duration of smartphone daily used was 4.90 hours (95%CI = 3.72-6.08). The meta-analytic estimation on prevalence of poor sleep was 57% (95%CI = 0.48-0.66), and the meta-mean of PSQI and duration of sleep was 5.95 (95%CI = 4.90-7.00) and 5.62h (95%CI = 4.87-6.36) respectively. Medical students used their smartphones mostly for text messaging, followed by photo-sharing or social networking. Its usage for medical education remains unclear.

Conclusion: The prevalence of poor sleep and smartphone addiction in medical students was 57% and 39% respectively, with a correlation index of 0.30. Medical students commonly used the smartphone for text-messaging, photo-sharing or social networking, averaging 4.9 hours daily.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart and results of literature review for systematic review on the association between smartphone usage and sleep among medical students.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Appraisal of papers using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist.
Fig 3
Fig 3
a. Mean sleep duration. b. Prevalence of poor sleep. c. Mean sleep score using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). d. Standardised mean difference of sleep score using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Fig 4
Fig 4
a. Duration of smartphone use daily.b Prevalence of smartphone addiction/overuse. c Smartphone addiction score using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV). d. Standardised mean difference of smartphone addiction score using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV).
Fig 5
Fig 5
a. Correlation between Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) and sleep duration. b. Correlation between Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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