Correlation between smartphone addiction and dysfunctional attitudes in nursing/midwifery students

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between smartphone addiction and dysfunctional attitudes. Design and Methods This descriptive study was conducted with the students of Nursing/Midwifery Department of a state university from March 01 to April 01, 2018. Findings Participant students had a mean score of 27.25 ± 11.41 in smartphone addiction scale and a mean score of 27.96 ± 14.74 in dysfunctional attitudes scale. The number of students' friends was found to affect their problem solving skills. Loneliness levels of participant students affected their dysfunctional attitude scores. Practice Implications It is highly important for our country to have sufficient knowledge of smartphone addiction, detect the dysfunctional attitudes and develop nursing care methods

Correlation between smartphone addiction and loneliness levels in nursing students

“…Although there are various studies on loneliness 32,33 and SA 3,4,9 in Turkey, this correlation has not been sufficiently studied among NSs. It is important to determine the correlation between SA and loneliness in NSs, who are candidates to be future health professionals, in terms of preventing any potential negative effects on patient care and patient safety.…”

“…In addition, an increase in the time spent using smartphones is closely associated with the severity of smartphone addiction (SA) 2,8 . Addiction is defined as the inability to quit or control the use of a substance or behavior 9 . SA, which can also be regarded as an addiction to technology, has been defined as a nonchemical behavioral addiction involving human‐machine interaction 10 .…”

“…The rate of smartphone users is rapidly increasing both worldwide and in Turkey. Smartphones are commonly used by young people, particularly university students 9 . SA among university students has been found to be quite high, ranging between 16.9% to 36,5% 2,8,11 .…”

“…SA among university students has been found to be quite high, ranging between 16.9% to 36,5% 2,8,11 . Nursing students (NSs) who have grown up with mobile phone technology constitute a potential risk group among cases of addiction created by the technological age 9 . Several studies conducted with NSs were reported that the rate of using smartphones was high and the rate of SA varies between 9.3% and 33.1% 11‐14 .…”

“…In addition, these studies showed that as the rate of SA increases, the academic performance, 15 the level of self‐control 12 decreases in NSs. Serin et al 9 reported that the NSs exhibited more dysfunctional attitudes as their levels of addiction increased. In another study revealed that the NSs in the SA risk group had worse self‐control and higher daily life stress 16 .…”