Clinical trial NCT06994104: Exploring the Effects of Smartphone and Game Addiction on Activity, Sleep, Stress, and Pain in Youth
Official title: Association of Smartphone and Digital Game Addiction With Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, Stress, Fatigue, and Musculoskeletal Pain in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Conditions: Smartphone Addiction
Game Addiction, Video
Musculoskeletal Pain Disorder
Sleep
Fatigue Symptom
Inactivity, Physical
Keywords: Smartphone addiction
Digital game addiction
Physical activity
Sleep quality
Stress
Fatigue
Musculoskeletal pain
University students
Self-reported questionnaire
Screen time
Lead sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-05-29
Enrollment: 193
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: OTHER
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Participants will be selected from undergraduate students enrolled in physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs at a health sciences faculty in an urban university setting. The population represents young adults aged 18 to 30 years with regular access to smartphones and/or digital games. Participants will be recruited through voluntary participation in response to announcements distributed via institutional communication channels.

Brief summary: This study aims to examine the relationship between smartphone and digital game addiction and various health indicators, including physical activity level, sleep quality, stress, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain among young people. University students often spend prolonged time on digital devices, which may affect their mental and physical well-being. By collecting self-reported data through validated questionnaires, the study will explore how these addictive behaviors are associated with lifestyle and health outcomes. The findings may help guide future interventions to promote healthier technology use among youth.

Detailed description: This cross-sectional, observational study investigates the associations between smartphone and digital game addiction and physical activity level, sleep quality, perceived stress, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate students in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. The study targets a minimum of 193 participants, with sample size determined via G\*Power analysis. Data will be collected using online survey forms distributed to students who provide informed consent.

The study employs a range of validated assessment tools including the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SF), Digital Game Addiction Scale for University Students (DGAS-U), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain intensity. Sociodemographic data and screen usage patterns will also be gathered.

Statistical analysis will be conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 24). Appropriate statistical tests such as correlation analysis, independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis will be applied to assess relationships and differences among subgroups. Comparisons will be made based on variables such as gender, academic year, screen time, and addiction severity.

This study is expected to reveal important links between digital addiction and decreased physical activity, poor sleep quality, elevated stress levels, fatigue, and increased musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the neck, back, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. It offers a comprehensive evaluation of both psychosocial and physical health outcomes related to digital addiction in physiotherapy students, a population with future responsibilities in musculoskeletal health care.

By highlighting the potential occupational health risks associated with students' digital habits, the study underscores the importance of preventive strategies, including ergonomics education, digital health literacy, and self-care practices. It also contributes uniquely to the literature by addressing how prolonged device use relates to musculoskeletal symptoms and by examining how daily step counts and physical activity levels may be influenced by digital addiction. Ultimately, the findings are expected to inform future interventions aimed at promoting healthier digital behaviors and supporting the well-being of students in health-related academic programs.

Eligibility criteria: * Inclusion Criteria Aged between 18 and 30 years Currently enrolled as a student in a physiotherapy and rehabilitation undergraduate program Willing to voluntarily participate and able to provide signed informed consent Capable of providing self-reported data regarding smartphone or digital game use
* Exclusion Criteria Diagnosis of any neurological, psychiatric, or chronic pain disorder Presence of a serious musculoskeletal condition or a history of major orthopedic surgery Having a medical condition (e.g., sleep disorder) that could affect the study outcomes Previous participation in a treatment program for smartphone or digital game addiction

Primary outcomes:
measure: Smartphone Addiction Level Measured by SAS-SF
timeFrame: At enrollment
measure: Digital Game Addiction Level Measured by DGAS-U
timeFrame: At enrollment
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Physical Activity Level Assessed by IPAQ-Short Form
timeFrame: At enrollment
measure: Sleep Quality Assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
timeFrame: At enrollment
measure: Perceived Stress Measured by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
timeFrame: At enrollment
measure: Fatigue Level Measured by Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20)
timeFrame: At enrollment
measure: Pain Intensity Measured by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
timeFrame: At enrollment
measure: Musculoskeletal Discomfort Measured by Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ)
timeFrame: At enrollment
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Istanbul
country: Turkey
facility: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
state: Marmara
Study officials:
References: