Pain and Screen Addiction in University Students

NCT ID: NCT06282900

Last Updated: 2024-08-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 255 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-03-04
• Study Completion Date: 2024-07-24

Brief Summary

One of the most important factors why young people spend inactive time is the time they spend in front of the screen. Sedentary screen time refers to time spent using a screen-based device, such as a computer, television, smartphone, or tablet while being sedentary in any environment. The last decade has seen a disturbing increase in the amount of time young people spend in front of screens. Research shows that musculoskeletal disorders in the hand, wrist, arm, and neck occur at a high rate due to long-term and repetitive use of the smartphone, one of the electronic devices. People with musculoskeletal pain often complain of more than one area of pain.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between university students' use of various screen-based devices, the time they spend in front of the screen, and the number of painful areas they report on the body. Our secondary aim is to evaluate the relationship between pain, and screen time, and physical activity level.

Detailed Description

University is also an important year in individuals' lives because it is a period in which they gain autonomy and have more control over their own lives and behaviors. It is known that adult individuals have a decrease in their physical activity due to their work lives and responsibilities. For this reason, the increase in sedentary life has also become evident in early adulthood.

Sedentary living is associated with many health risks independent of physical activity, and physical activity directly affects health status. Since a large portion of the world's population is physically inactive, physical inactivity is considered a public health problem rather than an individual problem.

One of the most important factors why young people spend inactive time is the time they spend in front of the screen. Sedentary screen time refers to time spent using a screen-based device, such as a computer, television, smartphone, or tablet while being sedentary in any environment. The last decade has seen a disturbing increase in the amount of time young people spend in front of screens.

Most studies on screen addiction have focused on smartphone use. Smartphone addiction is positively associated with repetitive overuse of joints, leading to inflammatory changes in healthy joints. It can also affect proprioceptors in muscles and ligaments due to the postural problems it creates. Research shows that musculoskeletal disorders in the hand, wrist, arm, and neck occur at a high rate due to long-term and repetitive use of the smartphone, one of the electronic devices.

People who experience localized pain often report pain in other areas as well. Having pain in one area increases the risk of developing pain in other areas. Reporting more than one area of pain worsens the prognosis and increases the possibility of the current problem becoming chronic.

People with musculoskeletal pain often suffer from more than one site of pain, and compliance with standard definitions of widespread pain often excludes the majority with more than one site of pain.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between university students' use of various screen-based devices, the time they spend in front of the screen, and the number of painful areas they report on the body. Our secondary aim is to evaluate the relationship between pain and screen time, and physical activity level.

Conditions

Student

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: OTHER
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

University students

A cross-sectional study (Level IV evidence) will be conducted at the university (Acibadem University, Turkey). All students at the university will be invited to respond to a self-administered online survey. The survey will be prepared via Google Forms.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• All students between the ages of 18-25
• People who use screen-based devices for at least 2 hours a day

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of congenital deformity
• History of trauma to the musculoskeletal system in the last 6 months
• History of serious surgery
• Presence of neurological disease

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Acibadem University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Elif E Safran, asst. prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Acibadem University

Locations

Acibadem University

Istanbul, None Selected, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

2024-1/15

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id