Smartphone addiction and sedentary time are associated with poorer sleep quality and more frequent neck/shoulder symptoms in university students
In a cross-sectional study of 585 university students, higher smartphone addiction and longer sedentary time were associated with higher PSQI scores, a higher prevalence of poor sleep (43.8%), and a higher prevalence of neck/shoulder symptoms (46.2%). Meeting physical activity recommendations was associated with lower PSQI scores and lower prevalence of poor sleep but not with neck/shoulder symptoms.
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Smartphone addiction and sedentary time are associated with poorer sleep quality and more frequent neck/shoulder symptoms in university students The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Smartphone addiction and sedentary time are associated with poorer sleep quality and more frequent neck/shoulder symptoms in university students
This conclusion is most relevant to: University students (n=585) from a single university in Jilin Province, China.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Associations of smartphone addiction and physical activity with sleep quality and neck/shoulder symptoms in university students: a cross-sectional study. (Frontiers in public health, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Higher smartphone addiction increases screen time and sedentary behavior
- ▸Sedentary time and smartphone use disrupt sleep through blue light exposure and cognitive arousal
- ▸Poor sleep quality may exacerbate musculoskeletal symptoms
- ▸Result: Smartphone addiction and sedentary time associated with poorer sleep and more neck/shoulder symptoms
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸University students (n=585) from a single university in Jilin Province, China
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
- ▸Single university sample limits generalizability to other populations
- ▸Self-reported measures may introduce recall bias
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of students had poor sleep quality?▼
43.8% of participants were classified as having poor sleep.
Did physical activity reduce neck/shoulder symptoms?▼
No, meeting physical activity recommendations showed no independent association with neck/shoulder symptoms.
Was the interaction between smartphone addiction and physical activity significant?▼
No, the formal interaction terms were not statistically significant, though descriptive plots suggested lower predicted PSQI scores and neck/shoulder symptoms among physically active students.
What questionnaires were used in this study?▼
Validated questionnaires were used to assess smartphone addiction, physical activity, sedentary time, sleep quality (PSQI), and neck/shoulder symptoms.
References
- 1.Yue W, Cao S, Zhao J, Wang Q, Lai W, Zhang J, Cui Y. “Associations of smartphone addiction and physical activity with sleep quality and neck/shoulder symptoms in university students: a cross-sectional study..” Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42440670 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1848640