Smartphone Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, and Academic Performance in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

In today's globalized world, technology significantly influences daily life. While it offers convenience, it also affects individuals in various ways. The increasing use of smartphones has raised concerns about smartphone addiction. This study seeks to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, anxiety, depression, and academic performance among university students. A total of 1,846 students (1,362 females and 484 males; mean age = 19.62 ± 1.11) participated in the research. An online questionnaire was distributed, including the Smartphone Addiction Scale-M (SAS-M), the Beck Anxiety Inventory-M (BAI-M), and the Beck Depression Inventory-M (BDI-M). Descriptive analysis revealed mean scores of smartphone addiction, anxiety, and depression among respondents as 105.78 ± 22.38, 11.66 ± 10.93, and 7.28 ± 7.89, respectively. Further analysis through simple linear regression indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between smartphone addiction, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.001). Specifically, smartphone addiction was identified as a predictor of anxiety (b = 0.006, t = 12.084, p < 0.001) and depression (b = 0.005, t = 10.770, p < 0.001). However, the study found no statistically significant relationship between smartphone addiction and academic performance. However, it concluded that college students are particularly vulnerable to smartphone addiction, which can result in heightened anxiety and depression. Consequently, comprehensive intervention programs are essential to address smartphone addiction and enhance mental health among college students.