Smartphone Shackles: Unraveling the Mental Toll of Device Dependency on Indian Undergraduates

Abstract

The research delves into exploring the correlation between excessive smartphone utilization and its effects on mental well-being, social interactions, cognitive abilities, and academic performance. It also examines the cultural and situational elements influencing smartphone dependency among Indian college students. A thorough review of existing literature indicates that over-reliance on smartphones leads to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and diminished life satisfaction. Moreover, prolonged smartphone use diminishes face-to-face communication, empathy, and fosters feelings of social seclusion. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and multilinear regression (MLR), were employed to scrutinize the association between Technical and Non-Technical Universities. A survey involving 1051 students revealed that a significant portion exhibited problematic smartphone usage to varying degrees. The primary motive behind their smartphone usage was accessing social networking apps, predominantly Instagram. Interestingly, the students' field of study (science-based vs. Management) did not significantly influence their susceptibility to addictive behavior patterns. The study's findings offer valuable insights for university administrators, aiding them in identifying specific cohorts of undergraduate students prone to addictive smartphone habits. This knowledge can be pivotal in devising targeted interventions tailored to address the unique needs of these high-risk groups, with the aim of mitigating their addictive smartphone behaviors. © 2024, Media Shed. All rights reserved.