‘‘Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Smartphone Addiction on Senior High

School Students Mental Health’’

_______________________________

A Concept Paper

Presented to:

The Professional Academy of the Philippines South Población, City of Naga,

Cebu

Practical Research 2

_________________________________

By:

Tañedo, Crisanto L.

Bargamento, Ma. Angela D.

Gacang, Rose Claire Flores

Omambac, Angelo

Jhon Vincent

Balili, Jhon Lhoyd

August 2024
I. Background of the Research

This study examines the quantitative effects of Smartphone addiction on students'

mental health. It addresses issues such as heightened anxiety, depression, and

reduced academic performance. The study seeks to quantify these effects and explore

the usage of Smartphone, this issue is important to explore because Smartphone

addiction is becoming more common among students and may result in serious mental

health problems like anxiety and depression. Gaining insight into these effects is

essential for creating effective interventions and support systems that enhance students'

well-being.

The research on the effects of Smartphone addiction on students' mental health is

crucial for the Professional Academy of the Philippines for several reasons. As students

increasingly rely on smart phones for academic and social purposes, this study will

provide insight into the extent of Smartphone addiction within this specific academic

community. By identifying the negative impacts of excessive Smartphone use, the

research can inform interventions and support systems aimed at enhancing students'

mental health, promoting a healthier academic environment. Understanding the impact

of Smartphone addiction on student mental health can help inform interventions and

policies aimed at promoting positive mental health among students at Professional

Academy of the Philippines. As it contribute to the existing knowledge on technology

addiction, mental health, and student well-being. The findings of this study can provide

valuable insights into the negative effects of excessive Smartphone use on mental

health and can help identify factors that may protect against or exacerbate these

effects. This information can then be used to develop targeted interventions and support
systems to improve Senior High School student mental health and well-being. While

there is existing literature on Smartphone addiction and mental health, this research

specifically focuses on students in the Philippine context, adding a localized perspective

to global findings. This study is significant not only for its immediate benefits to students

at the Professional Academy of the Philippines but also for its broader implications in

educational practices and mental health awareness in the context of technology use.

Globally the use of Smartphone has exponentially increased becoming an

inherent part of many STUDENTS and has also introduced various changes in daily

activities and habits. This exponential increase is because in addition to the phone and

text services provided by conventional mobile phones, Smartphone contain new

technology that provides an interface to make real-time broadcasts, access to a wide

range of contents, and send/receive emails. Due to this increase in the penetration rate

in the population of students, it shows that excessive Smartphone use is problematic. In

literature, the terms ”PROBLEMATIC MOBILE OR SMARTPHONEUSE”

“SMARTPHONE ADDICTION”SMARTPHONE DEPENDENCE” and “SMARTPHONE

OVERUSE have all been used the same phenomenon, which is, an individual’s inability

to regulate their use of Smartphone, resulting in negative consequences in daily life.

Although Smartphone are prevalent for all age groups, students are the most common

users. Smartphone overuse among student’s may be closely related to psychological

health problems, including sleep disturbance, techno stress, low self-confidence, social

isolation, and depression. However, Social Support that refers to the functions

performed for the individual by significant others (including family members, relatives,

and friends are considered as the significant predictor of mental health. This particular
study is needed to be focus on to know the necessary ways to prevent the overuse of

SMARPHONE especially on student. For instance, social support can ensure students,

adapt more effectively to independent life, improve their mental health, and protect

themselves from risk factors.

The historical context of Smartphone addiction and its mental health implications

shows a notable progression over time. Smartphone’s began gaining prominence in the

early 2000s, with early models like the BlackBerry and iPhone changing communication

and internet access. Initially, these devices were praised for their convenience, but as

their use became more pervasive, concerns arose about their potential for overuse and

its psychological impact. Research from the late 2000s started to highlight the links

between excessive Smartphone use and mental health issues such as anxiety,

depression, and sleep problems, particularly among students. As Smartphone

technology has advanced, the focus on its effects on student mental health has also

grown. The 2010s saw increased research into how Smartphone addiction impacts

academic performance and overall mental health well-being. During this time, studies

began to explore specific aspects of Smartphone use, such as social media and

gaming, and their effects on mental health. By the 2020s, research methodologies had

become more refined, allowing for better measurement of these effects and the

development of targeted interventions to support students dealing with Smartphone

addiction. This historical evolution highlights the importance of understanding past

trends to address current issues effectively.

One study found that students who use their cellular phones during class lectures

tend to write down less information, recall less information, and perform worse on a
multiple choice test than those students who abstain from using their phone during

class. This Real World study can really be observed in the locality today. It shows that

the greater use of Smartphone while studying, the greater the Negative impacts

students learning an overall academic performance. Your Smartphone is a lifeline that

provides information on the spot and keeps you connected to loved ones. However, it’s

important to pay attention to your cell phone usage to ensure you don’t develop an

addiction to your device. Maintain healthy and happy mental state by balancing your

engagement in the real world along with your screen time. This means there is a

relationship between the intensity of Smartphone use with discipline, motivation and

learning achievements of students. This means that the higher the intensity of

Smartphone use, the lower the discipline motivation and learning achievement of

students.

The background information in a study with the title "Quantitative Assessment of

the Effects of Smartphone Addiction on Senior High School Students' Mental Health"

needs to be customized to the wide range of interests of its target audience. The effects

of Smartphone addiction on kids' academic performance, social interactions, and

general well-being must be emphasized by educators and school administrators. Use

important data and case studies to guide intervention and policy decisions. The main

focus for parents and guardians should be on educating them about the dangers of

Smartphone addiction, how to spot its symptoms, and how to monitor and regulate their

child's usage of Smartphone. Background information on the relationship between

Smartphone addiction and mental health problems should be provided to researchers

and mental health practitioners. This information must be backed up by extensive data
and statistical analysis. Along with highlighting current research gaps, it should offer

therapeutic strategies that have clinical application potential. By giving each group

access to this specific and comprehensive information, the study's conclusions will be

successfully utilized to address the negative effects of Smartphone addiction on mental

health.

For the research paper "Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Smartphone

Addiction on Students Mental health" here's how the background information can be

tailored to the needs and interests of the target audience and primary readers.

Relevance to daily life of the student's. Provide background information on how

smartphone addiction specifically affects students' academic performance, social

interactions, and mental health. Use relatable examples and data to illustrate these

points. Highlight the impact of smartphone use on student life, including stress, sleep

patterns, and productivity. Offer insights into how understanding these effects can help

them make informed choices about smartphone use. Teachers, Staff and other, focus

on how smartphone addiction affects students' learning environments, classroom

behavior, and overall academic performance. Include statistics and case studies that

show the correlation between smartphone use and student outcomes. This helps staff

understand how they can support students in managing smartphone use and improving

their well-being. By tailoring the background information to these specific audiences, the

paper will better address their concerns and interests, making it more relevant and

impactful.

This research study, "Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Smartphone

Addiction on Students Mental Health," aims to understand the relationship between

valuable insights, it's essential to acknowledge certain constraints and delimitations that

may influence the findings and interpretation. The study utilizes a cross-sectional

design, meaning data is collected at a single point in time. This design doesn't allow for

establishing causal relationships between Smartphone addiction and mental health. It

only reveals associations between these variables at a specific moment. Therefore, it's

impossible to determine whether Smartphone addiction causes mental health issues or

vice versa. The study lacks longitudinal data, which would allow researchers to track

changes in Smartphone addiction and mental health over time. This would provide a

more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationship between these

variables. The study is intentionally delimited to a specific population of students, such

as college students or university students. It doesn't examine the effects of Smartphone

addiction on other age groups, such as adolescents or young adults. The study focuses

on a particular context, such as a specific university or geographic location. It doesn't

explore the impact of Smartphone addiction in other educational settings or social

environments. The study uses a specific definition of Smartphone addiction, which may

differ from other definitions used in the literature. This could affect the comparability of

findings across different studies. The study uses specific measures for Smartphone

addiction and mental health, which may not capture the full spectrum of these

constructs. This could limit the general of the findings. The study intentionally excludes

other factors that could influence the relationship between Smartphone addiction and

mental health, such as socioeconomic status, family dynamics, or previous mental

health history.
II. Literature Review

The current era can be known as a combination of information and

communication. Today, in possession of advanced information and communication

technology, we are able to establish connections and exchange information faster than

before. According to (Hooper ýand Zhou), psychologists from Staffordshire University,

studied 106 people who had used ýmobile phones, and found that 16.00% of them have

behavioral problems. Many mobile phone or Smartphone addicts are people with low

self-esteem and poor social relationships; thus, mobile phone silence can lead to

anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, shaking, insomnia, and digestive problems. From

the perspective of (Thomee et al). The overuse of mobile phones is associated with

anxiety, insomnia, depression, psychological distress, and unhealthy lifestyle. The

findings of (Shambare et al.) showed that mobile phone use was mostly addictive,

habitual, and dependent. The study of Ahmed et al. showed that a small number, less

than 18.50%, of Pakistani students displayed mobile-related addictive behaviors. As of

2019, the global Smartphone penetration was reported to be approximately 41.5% of

the global population [3]. In 2014, the number of Smartphone users in South Korea was

reported to be 39 million. However, currently, the number of Smartphone users is

estimated to be around 53.5 million, accounting for 97% of the Korean population.

Among this population, it is reported that individuals between the ages of 20–30 years

have a 100% penetration rate. Due to this increase in the Smartphone penetration rate

in the population, research shows that excessive Smartphone use is problematic.

However, according to Lee et al. (1997), Smartphone addiction is a disorder involving

the compulsive pathological overuse of Smartphone devices. People spend on them

which has led to a new syndrome known as “Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)”. FoMO

refers to a state in which individuals spend much of their time on social media with the

fear of missing out on the latest information in social networks.

III. The Problem and your Goals

The main objective in addressing the use of Smartphone by students has become

a serious problem, affecting both their mental and intellectual well-being. Due to social

media connections and the constant barrage of information, the common use of cell

phones might result in elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Excessive

screen usage can also shorten attention spans, interfere with sleep cycles, and

decrease in-person social contacts, all of which worsen students' general wellbeing. The

complex relationships of Smartphone addiction must be understood as educational

settings change in order to effectively treat these mental health issues. This quantitative

assessment's main objective is to determine how Smartphone addiction impacts

students' mental health. The study uses a survey to measure the relationship between

Smartphone usage patterns and mental health metrics like stress, anxiety, and

depression. The study looks for demographic factors that can affect these connections

in order to provide a more thorough knowledge of the ways that Smartphone addiction

presents itself in various student demographics. In the end, the results will guide tactics

and interventions meant to lessen the harmful impacts of Smartphone addiction and

encourage kids to utilize technology in a healthier way.

IV. Methodology
Data Collection Method Surveys Questionnaires

Design a structured questionnaire to assess smart phone usage patterns, addiction

levels, and mental health indicators. Use standardized scales, such as the Smartphone

Addiction Scale (SAS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS).

Sampling Method: Use stratified random sampling to ensure representation across

different demographics (age, gender). Target student’s from various educational

institutions (Senior High Schools).

Data Collection Procedure:

Distribute the questionnaire online through Google Forms or similar platforms. Ensure

anonymity and confidentiality to encourage honest responses.

Data Analysis

Use frequency distributions to understand usage patterns and addiction levels.

Conduct correlation analysis to explore the relationship between smart phone addiction

scores and mental health indicators. Perform regression analysis to identify predictive

relationships and control for potential confounding variables. Use t-tests to compare

mental health scores between students categorized by different levels of smart phone

addiction (e.g., high, moderate, low).

Tools to be used

In this study the researcher use a Google Forms for survey questionnaire

distribution and data collection. SPSS or R for data analysis, allowing for advanced

statistical testing and visualizations. Excel for preliminary data organization and basic
analysis. For data visualization Microsoft Power for creating visual representations of

the data (e.g., charts, graphs).

Research Participant’s

In the specific context of Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Smart phone

Addiction on Student’s Mental Health. The participants of the study aim for a minimum

of 200 Senior High School participants at Professional Academy of the Philippines for

sufficient statistical power. Ensure representation across different genders, ethnicities,

and academic disciplines. Participants should have consented to participate in the

study. It is a form of quantitative research where survey questions are being sent

through Google form about their perceptions attitudes, opinion or ideas.

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PMCID: PMC9866527.

Babadi-Akashe Z, Zamani BE, Abedini Y, Akbari H, Hedayati N. The Relationship

between Mental Health and Addiction to Mobile Phones among University

Students of Shahrekord, Iran. Addict Health. 2014 Summer-Autumn;6(3-4):93-9.

PMID: 25984275; PMCID: PMC4354213.

Achangwa C, Ryu HS, Lee JK, Jang JD. Adverse Effects of Smartphone Addiction
 among University Students in South Korea: A Systematic Review. Healthcare

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36611474; PMCID: PMC9818487.

Peters MDJ, Marnie C, Tricco AC, Pollock D, Munn Z, Alexander L, McInerney P,

Godfrey CM, Khalil H. Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of

scoping reviews. JBI Evid Synth. 2020 Oct;18(10):2119-2126. doi:

10.11124/JBIES-20-00167. PMID: 33038124.

Front. Psychol., 26 September 2023

Sec. Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology

Volume 14 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1269309