Open AccessSmartphone Dependence among Undergraduates in Taiwan
Author(s) -
NaeFang Miao,
Cheng-Jin Lin,
Ching-Lien Cheng,
Yu-Ling Hsiao,
I-Hui Chen
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of mobile multimedia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.229
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1550-4654
pISSN - 1550-4646
DOI - 10.13052/1550-4646.1424
Subject(s) - allowance (engineering) , affect (linguistics) , psychology , smartphone application , applied psychology , clinical psychology , medical education , medicine , multimedia , computer science , engineering , communication , mechanical engineering
Smartphones have become a new means of communication and a major method of obtaining information. Dependence on or the excessive use of smartphones may affect health in the long term. However, little attention has been focused on smartphone use and dependence among undergraduates. Therefore, this study investigated the smartphone use behavior of Taiwanese undergraduates and their dependence on smartphones. A cross-sectional study design with a structured questionnaire was used for undergraduates aged≥20 years from four universities. The results suggested that the majority of participants, particularly women, experienced physical discomfort caused by smartphone use. Moreover, the participants exhibited a moderate to high dependence on smartphones. Smartphone use and dependence were both affected by family economic status, monthly allowance, and major. The findings indicated that health care providers, educators, and parents can play critical roles in encouraging the healthy use of smartphones among undergraduates.