Relationship of Multidimensional Factors with Digital Addiction among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

With the rapid spread of technology, excessive and uncontrolled digital device use has become a growing concern, especially among university students. This behavioral pattern, referred to as digital addiction, may negatively affect musculoskeletal health, cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life.

This study aims to enhance understanding of digital addiction by exploring its prevalence among university students and identifying related factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 university students to assess their digital addiction using the Digital Addiction Scale (DAS). Other factors were assessed through the Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS 21), Body Awareness Questionnaire, SF-12, and Jamar hand dynamometer. To identify DAS associated factors, multiple regression analysis was performed using DAS as the dependent variable.

The participants' mean age was 21.11 ± 1.41 years, with a body mass index of 22.35 ± 3.54 kg/m². About 51.2% of the study participants had high digital addiction. While MSK-HQ (P = 0.001) and SF-12 (Mental Component Score) (P = 0.012) were significantly lower in the high digital addiction group, CFQ (P < 0.001) and DASS 21 (P = 0.037) were found to be higher. Multiple regression analysis showed that DAS was only associated with MSK-HQ (P = 0.013, B = -0.373, 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.08) and CFQ (P = 0.002, B = 0.260, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.42).

The study highlights disparities in musculoskeletal health, cognitive levels, mental health, and quality of life among students based on levels of digital addiction, with higher addiction correlating to poorer musculoskeletal health and increased cognitive errors.