International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue: 1and2

The influence of sociodemographic factors on smartphone addiction among university students in Malaysia

1Discipline lead, Department of otorhinolaryngology, International Medical School, Management & Science University, Selangor, Malaysia

2Discipline lead, Department of Biochemistry, International Medical School, Management & Science University, Selangor, Malaysia

3Bachelor of Medical Science, Department of Pre-Clinical, International Medical School, Management & Science University, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding Author: Kavitha Ashok Kumar, Discipline lead, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Email: kavitha_ashok@msu.edu.my

Online Published on 22 December, 2021.

Abstract

Smartphones are popular gadgets among young adults in Malaysia. Frequent and persistent smartphone usage may lead to addiction.

to identify the socio-demographic factors that are associated with smartphone addiction among university students.

a cross sectional survey was conducted amongstudents attending a private university in Shah Alam Malaysia.Convenient sampling technique was used to collect primary data using a well- structured questionnaire adopting Smartphone Addiction Scale -short form (SPAS-SF). Descriptive and inferential statistics was used.

a total of 400 students from different faculties in the universityvoluntarily participated in the study. Among them,30.8% were in the 1st year of study,while 65.8% were in 2ndor 3rdyear and 3.5% were pursuing 4thor 5th year of education at the university. They were in the age group of 1824 years.Females constituted66.8% of the study group. 47.3% were Indians,40% were Malays and 12.7% were Chinese. The average household monthly income of majority of the participants was less than RM 10,000.The highest level of education of majority of the parents was secondary school. Sociodemographic factors like gender, year of study and the family income showed a significant relation with the smartphone addiction while age, ethnicity and parent's level of education did not.

The study results may help universities to identify vulnerable groups among university students to strategize targeted interventions designed to prevent addictive behaviour towards smartphones in future.

Keywords

Sociodemographic factors, Smartphone addiction, University students