The prevalence of text neck syndrome among international students

This research aims to identify the frequency of text neck syndrome among international students residing in Istanbul. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. The research group was made up of international students. A total of 396 international students participated voluntarily in this online survey. Out of 396 participants, 193 were male, and 198 were female. Participants' demographic characteristics were documented using a structured questionnaire. The smartphone addiction scale, shortened version, measured smartphone addition. The neck disability index was utilized to evaluate neck discomfort. The mean value of the smartphone addiction scale was 3.74, which showed a high level of addiction, and the mean score of the neck disability index was 2.78 showing a moderate level of disability. An independent t-test was used for calculating the comparisons among groups. There was a significant difference between gender groups. Females have a high level of smartphone addiction than males. The association between the neck disability index and the smartphone addiction scale was examined using the Pearson coefficient correlation test. The significant value of .425 showed a moderate positive relationship between the smartphone addiction scale and the neck disability index. As the scores on the smartphone addiction scale increase, there is a tendency for the scores on the neck disability index to increase as well and vice versa. The p-value is 0.000, meaning the correlation is statistically significant at 5% and 1% significance levels. The results showed that the international students had neck disability, which showed a substantial relationship between text neck syndrome and smartphone addiction. Hence, it is imperative to prioritize promoting awareness regarding maintaining appropriate sitting posture and reducing mobile device usage duration.