Examining the dynamics between loneliness and smartphone addiction among nursing students: A cross-sectional study

Smartphone use has become deeply embedded in modern life, offering convenience in communication, education, and entertainment. Nursing students, as part of a technology-reliant and academically pressured population, are particularly vulnerable to smartphone addiction (SA) and its associated impacts. This study aims to determine the correlation between SA and loneliness levels in nursing students. A descriptive, online cross-sectional study has been conducted at King Saud University College of Nursing, receiving 141 nursing student contributions (response rate: 42.7%). Data were collected using the SA Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), along with demographic and usage-related questions. The mean age of participants was 21.58 ± 1.87 years, with 54.6% identifying as female. Most students (72.3%) believed they might be addicted to smartphones, confirming an average daily use of over 6 hours. Of those nursing students surveyed, the study identified moderate scores for SAS-SV (37.93 ± 8.88) and UCLA-LS (40.01 ± 10.14), together with a positive correlation between SA and loneliness (r = .237, P <.05). Loneliness emerged as the strongest predictor of smartphone use, with higher loneliness scores significantly associated with increased usage (β = 0.175, P = .011). These results highlight a potential psychological burden associated with smartphone overuse among nursing students. Given the implications for their future roles in patient care, targeted interventions promoting digital well-being and social engagement are recommended. Plus, further longitudinal studies are necessary to understand causality and inform preventative strategies.