Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between physical activity level, smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and pain in university students.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at KTO Karatay University with the participation of 168 university students. Participants’ physical activity levels, smartphone addiction levels, sleep quality, and pain severity were evaluated with International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and visual analog scale (VAS) respectively.
Results: There was no significant relationship between IPAQ-SF scores and other parameters (p>0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between SAS-SV scores and PSQI results (ρ=0.389, p<0.05), and a weak positive correlation with VAS-headache (ρ=0.163, p<0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between PSQI and VASheadache (ρ=0.317, p<0.05) and a weak positive correlation with VAS-neck pain (ρ=0.254, p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study shows that physical activity levels are significantly low among university students. Also, a relationship was found between the increase in smartphone addiction and the deterioration in sleep quality. In addition, a relationship was found between both smartphone addiction and impaired sleep quality with increased pain levels.
Therefore, we recommend awareness studies on physical activity, smartphone addiction, and sleep quality, especially in university students aged 18–27.
Permission for this study was received from KTO Karatay University Non-Pharmaceutical and Non-Medical Device Research Ethics Committee. ((Decision date: 27.10.2023 Decision No: 2023/017).
Primary Language | English |
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Subjects | Public Health (Other), Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation |
Journal Section | Research Articles |
Authors | |
Early Pub Date | September 9, 2025 |
Publication Date | October 1, 2025 |
Submission Date | July 10, 2024 |
Acceptance Date | July 28, 2025 |
Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 16 Issue: 4 |