Investigation of the relationship of smartphone addiction with posture, upper extremity function and reaction rate in healthy young adults

Introduction and Purpose: The aim of the study is to determine the effects of the smartphone addiction on the posture, upper extremity functionand reaction time in healthy young adults. Material and Methods: The study conducted between March 2023 and September 2024 in the research laboratory of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Trakya University with 97 voluntary participants who were students of Trakya University. In our study, smartphone addiction was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS); upper extremity activity and participation level were evaluated with the QuickDASH questionnaire; neck pain intensity and disability were measured using the Neck Pain and Disability Scale; posture assessment was conducted with the New York Posture Index; hand reaction time was evaluated using the Fit-Light Trainer device; and hand grip strength was measured with the Camry Electronic Hand Dynamometer. The Kurtosis (Flatness) and Skewness values of the research variables were examined. The results were evaluated with a 95% confidence interval, and significance was defined as p<0.05. Results: A moderate positive relationship was found between smartphone addiction and neck disability scores, and this relationship was statistically significant (r=0.438, p<0.01). This indicates that as smartphone addiction increases, neck disability also increases. However, the effects on motor skills, including grip strength and hand reaction time, were minimal or statistically insignificant. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study found that smartphone addiction has a significant effect on neck disability and may be associated with certain physical functions. The increase in smartphone addiction negatively affects posture.