Effect of ten-week yoga intervention on problematic smartphone usage in university students: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background

The rise in problematic smartphone use among university students underscores the potential of yoga, with its evidence-based ability to improve problematic behaviours at their core.

Objective

To determine whether a ten-week yoga intervention can reduce the symptoms of problematic smartphone usage in university students.

Materials & methods

One hundred fifty participants aged between 18 and 23 years were randomly divided into a yoga (n=75) and a control group (n=75) with an allocation ratio of 1:1. The yoga group received yoga intervention for ten-weeks, whereas the control group carried out their normal daily routine. Each participant was assessed for the symptoms of problematic smartphone usage at baseline, post intervention and two months follow-up by using a standardized Problematic Use of Mobile Phone (PUMP) scale.

Results

Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Repeated measure analyses of variance (RM-ANOVA) with baseline PUMP score used as a covariate have shown a significant reduction in overall problematic smartphone usage (p<0.001; Bonferroni adjusted post hoc analyses) in the yoga group after ten-week of yoga intervention and at two months follow-up (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The results suggest that regular practice of yoga may act as a useful approach to reduce the problematic smartphone usage and its associated symptoms in university students.