Does the Usage Habits of Smart Wireless Devices Affect Educational Status and Sleep Quality? The Results of an Anonymous Questionnaire of Iranian High School Students.

Abstract

Objectives: The increasing popularity of wireless smart devices among adolescents has raised concerns about their possible negative effects on academic performance, phone addiction, and sleep disorders. In particular, this issue is of special importance in Iran because some studies have shown that more than 50% of Iranian adolescents are addicted to mobile phones according to the criteria of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between daily use time and/or exposure to wireless smart devices and some educational and psychological factors in high school students.

Materials & methods: This study was conducted on anonymous Iranian high school students using an online questionnaire. Only students aged 14 to 18 who owned personal smart devices were included in this study.

Results: Twenty-nine participants met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that female students used these devices more frequently than male students, and having multiple devices had negative effects on educational performance, phone addiction, and sleep disorders. Sleeping next to wireless devices also negatively impacts sleep quality.

Conclusion: This study highlights the need to promote healthy device usage habits among adolescents.