The impact of smartphone addiction and posture on the prevalence of hand pain among university students

Background Excessive smartphone use among students may cause discomfort in the hands and fingers. This study examines the relationship between smartphone holding posture, smartphone addiction score, and the occurrence of wrist and finger pain in university students. Methods This cross-sectional study included 227 university students who met specific inclusion criteria. Data were gathered using a demographic questionnaire. The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) was used to evaluate students’ levels of mobile phone addiction. Participants identified five common postures they used while holding and interacting with their smartphones. Wrist and finger discomfort—its prevalence, frequency, severity, and impact on daily activities—was assessed using the Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ). Results The study revealed that the average age of participants was 19.8 ± 3.07 years. A total of 76.65% reported experiencing pain in one or both hands, with the right hand being the most commonly affected. Higher smartphone addiction scores were significantly associated with increased discomfort in all evaluated hand areas for both hands (p ≤ 0.001). While no statistically significant relationship was found between hand discomfort and smartphone-holding postures overall, Posture 5 was frequently associated with higher discomfort reports in multiple hand regions, particularly in Areas B and C. Conclusion The findings suggest that higher smartphone addiction is associated with increased hand discomfort among students, highlighting the need for awareness and ergonomic practices to prevent related musculoskeletal issues.