Health-related consequences of the type and utilization rates of electronic devices by college students

Abstract

Background College students are leading an evolution of device use both in the type of device and the frequency of use. They have transitioned from desktop stations to laptops, tablets, and especially smartphones and use them throughout the day and into the night. Methods Using a 35-min online survey, we sought to understand how technology daily usage patterns, device types, and postures affect pain and discomfort to understand how knowledge of that pain might help students avoid it. Data were analyzed from 515 students (69.5% male) who completed an internet-delivered survey (81.3% response rate). Results Participants ranked smartphones as their most frequently used technology (64.0%), followed by laptops and tablets (both 53.2%), and desktop computers (46.4%). Time spent using smartphones averaged over 4.4 h per day. When using their devices, students were more likely to adopt non-traditional workplace postures as they used these devices primarily on the couch or at a chair with no desk. Conclusion Recent trends in wireless academic access points along with the portability of small handheld devices, have made smartphones the most common link to educational materials despite having the least favorable control and display scenario from an ergonomic perspective. Further, the potential impact of transitions in work environments due to COVID-19 may further exacerbate ergonomic issues among millions highlighting the need for such work to be carried out.

Upper crossed syndrome in secondary school students: A mixed-method study

“…25 The need to use technology to attend classes virtually might affect different aspects of posture. 26 …”

“…Benden et al. 26 have argued that the changes in workspaces brought about by COVID-19 might have exacerbated postural problems in the general population.…”

The prevalence of bad posture and musculoskeletal symptoms originating from the use of gadgets as an impact of the work from home program of the university community

“…A survey executed by Jacob Pausher (2016) in 2015, discovered three-quarters of adults in 40 countries procured access to the internet at least once a day, and several times daily in some countries [ 17 ], and also, the social media was more often perused in developing countries than in developed countries. Study by Benden et al in 2021 also showed that smartphones as their most frequently used technology (64.0%), followed by laptops and tablets (both 53.2%), and desktop computers (46.4%) [ 18 ]. In addition, as observed by Alzhrani et al in 2019, 97.5% of 398 university employees and research students used smartphones for both work and personal reasons (72.1%), 1.8% for work alone, and 23.6% for personal use only [ 19 ].…”

“…et al , in 2017 about mobile touch screen devices’ (MTSDs) operators alleged the amount, features, tasks and positions of device use had limited evidence regarding musculoskeletal symptoms and exposures [ 22 ]. Study by Benden also showed that the participants were more likely to adopt non-traditional workplace postures as they used these devices primarily on the couch or at a chair with no desk [ 18 ].…”