JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Sleep quality ensures better physical and psychological well-being. It is regulated through endogenous hemostatic, neurogenic and circadian processes. Nonetheless, environmental and behavioral factors also play a role in sleep hygiene. Electronic devices use is increasing rapidly and have been linked to many adverse effects rising a public health concerns.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the impact of electronic devices addiction on sleep quality and academic performance among healthcare students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study from June to December 2019. The study was conducted at three different universities in Jeddah. Six hundred eight students from five different health sciences disciplines. Outcome measures used were Smartphone Addiction Scale-short version (SAS-SV), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and grade point average (GPA).

Results:

The median age of the participants was 21 years, with 71.9% being females. Almost all of the cohort utilized smartphones, and 75% of them always use it at bedtime. Half of the students (53%) have poor sleep quality, while 32 % are addicted to smartphones use. Using multivariable logistic regression addiction to smart phones (SAS-SV score >31 males & > 33 females) was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) with odds ratio of 1.8 (1.2-2.7). In addition, male gender and older students (age ≥ 21) were significantly associated with lower grade point average (GPA < 4.5), with odds ratio of 1.6 (1.1-2.3) and 2.3 (1.5-3.6) respectively; however, addiction to smart phones and poor sleep quality were not significantly associated to lower grade point average.

Conclusions:

Electronic devices addiction is associated with increased risk for poor sleep quality; however, electronic devices addiction and poor sleep quality are not associated with increased risk for lower grade point average.