40% medical students addicted to smartphone: Study

Lucknow: Approximately 40 per cent of undergraduate medical students display symptoms of smartphone addiction, with a higher prevalence among males (46.2 per cent) compared to females (33.3 per cent), a study said.

Published in Global Psychiatry Archives, the recent study — involving 224 medical undergraduates — was conducted by Dr Surobhi Chatterjee of AIIMS Mangalagiri in Andhra Pradesh and Prof Sujita Kumar Kar of KGMU.

Prof Kar pointed out a key finding: Nearly 90 per cent of the students use their phones for entertainment, while only 29 per cent reported using them for professional or academic work. Just 19 per cent said they used smartphones for both purposes.

The study also revealed a concerning behaviour linked to excessive phone use. Approximately 186 students admitted to using their phones in potentially hazardous situations, with the most common being phone use while walking on roads (nearly 80%) and crossing roads (37.5%). While female students exhibited more overall risky behaviour, male students were more likely to use phones while driving.

Excessive smartphone use was also linked to poor mental health and sleep disturbances. Among female students, feelings of guilt were most common (39.16%), while 43.27% of male students reported anxiety in areas with poor network coverage. Students who used phones more frequently tended to be younger and showed higher levels of addiction, stress, and sleep issues.

Prof Kar warned that smartphone overuse comes with hidden psychological costs. He said students using phones excessively displayed emotional and behavioural changes such as irritability, anxiety, and frustration. He emphasised that reducing screen time could significantly benefit the mental health and well-being of future doctors.