Health impact of screen addiction: A cross-sectional comparative study

Background Prevalence-based, non-comparative studies have been done to assess psychological and physical consequences of social media and gaming addiction. However, similar studies are lacking for binge-watching, especially in India. We compared the physical and psychological health impact between screen addicted and healthy screen users, by minimizing bias due to confounding factors. Methods We did this cross-sectional comparative study among 120 participants (60 cases and 60 matched controls) consisting of gamers, social media users and binge-watchers, who were recruited from schools and colleges of Mumbai based on their scores on the Digital Addiction Scale (DAS). Levels of depression, anxiety and stress; sleep quality; and dry eye disease were assessed using pre-validated scales such as DASS-21, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), respectively, while the other variables were assessed using a self-designed questionnaire with a content validity ratio (CVR) >0.65. Results The mean (SD) age of the participants was 19.3 (3.2) years, one-third were women; 68% were from medical colleges and 16% each from engineering colleges and high schools. The prevalence and scores of depression, anxiety and stress; poor sleep quality; and dry eye disease; and prevalence of loneliness, aggression and musculoskeletal pain in the wrist, thumb, neck and back were significantly higher in the screen addicted group (p<0.05). Conclusions There was a significant difference in the prevalence and levels of physical and psychological health impact between screen addicted and healthy screen users.