Effects of electronic gadgets on the physical health of high school students
Sheeliya White N and Dr. Jitendra Chicholkar
Background: Adolescents increasingly rely on electronic devices, which are integral to daily life. Device usage among school pupils has surged, offering convenience, but posing risks to well-being. This study explores electronic gadget impact on physical health in high school students.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 100 high school students used non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Over 29% of participants used devices for 5-6 hours daily, equating to a quarter of their time. Additionally, 23% spent 3-4 hours, 19% spent 7-8 hours, and 14% spent 1-2 hours daily on devices. 4% used devices for over 10 hours. High dependency was seen in 4%, moderate in 44%, and slight in 52%. Students using devices for more than 8 hours daily had more sleep disturbances (80%), headaches, and neck pain (60%), compared to fewer issues among 1-4-hour users. Heavy users also experienced more vision problems (53%), back pain (40%), hearing issues, obesity, and migraines. A significant positive correlation exists between gadget use duration and physical complaints (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The study concluded that setting realistic screen time limits encourages adolescents to engage in physical activity and in-person social contact. To address technology addiction among schoolchildren, parents, educators, and legislators must collaborate to provide positive role models and support. The study also found that longer gadget usage is directly associated with more physical health problems in students.
Sheeliya White N, Dr. Jitendra Chicholkar. Effects of electronic gadgets on the physical health of high school students. Int J Adv Res Community Health Nurs 2024;6(2):01-06. DOI: 10.33545/26641658.2024.v6.i2a.185