Open Access

ARTICLE

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Smartphone Addiction among Adolescents–A Nationwide Study in Malaysia

Kai Wei Lee¹, Siew Mooi Ching^2,*, Norsiah Ali³, Chor Yau Ooi⁴, Shahnul Kamal Hj Sidek⁵, Azlin Amat⁶, Yusnita Yatim⁷, Zaiton Yahaya⁸, Nabihah Shamsuddin⁹, Idora Ibrahim¹⁰, Fauzia Abdul Majid¹¹, Fazlin Suhana Othman¹², Nik Suhaila Zakaria¹³, Artini Abidin¹⁴, Nor Hazlin Talib¹⁵, Dhashani Sivaratnam¹⁶

1 Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang, Selangor, 43000, Malaysia
2 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
3 Klinik Kesihatan Masjid Tanah, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Masjid Tanah, 78300, Malaysia
4 Department of Family Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, 94300, Malaysia
5 Klinik Kesihatan Tanjung Malim, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Tanjung Malim, 35900, Malaysia
6 Klinik Kesihatan Hiliran, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kuala Terengganu, 20300, Malaysia
7 Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Pekan, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Pekan, 26600, Malaysia
8 Klinik Kesihatan Sandakan, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sandakan, 90000, Malaysia
9 Klinik Kesihatan Serting Hilir, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Bandar Seri Jempol, 72120, Malaysia
10 Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Perlis, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kuala Perlis, 02000, Malaysia
11 Klinik Kesihatan Kempas, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Johor Bahru, 81200, Malaysia
12 Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Kedah, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kuala Kedah, 06600, Malaysia
13 Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Gua Musang, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Gua Musang, 18300, Malaysia
14 Klinik Kesihatan Kepala Batas, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kepala Batas, 13200, Malaysia
15 Klinik Kesihatan Kajang, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kajang, 43000, Malaysia
16 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia

* Corresponding Author: Siew Mooi Ching. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2023, 25(2), 237-247. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2023.013407

Received 15 May 2021; Accepted 10 March 2022; Issue published 02 February 2023

Abstract

Smartphone ownership among adolescents is getting common in this decade especially in Malaysia; Adolescent are strongly devoted to their smartphone and this may lead to smartphone addiction. Studies have reported that smartphone addiction has become an emerging social and health problem especially among the youth in many countries however there is lack of study among adolescents in Malaysia. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors associated with smartphone addiction among adolescents in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional study involving adolescents from 15 primary care clinics throughout the country. Respondents were assessed on their smartphone activities using the Malaysian short version of the Smartphone addiction scale (SAS-M-SV). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of smartphone addiction among adolescents. The study was conducted among 921 adolescents with 49.6% male (n = 457). The mean age of adolescents was 16.4 ± 2.4 years. The ethnicity distribution were 74.6% Malay, 7.3% Chinese, 4.7% Indian and 13.4% other ethnicities. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 37.1% (342/921); 37.4% in male and 36.9% in female. Based on multiple logistic regression analysis, longer duration of smartphone use per week was associated with higher odds of smartphone addiction among adolescent (odd ratio = 1.005%, 95% confidence interval = 1.000–1.009, p-value = 0.039). Smartphone addiction is present in nearly four in ten adolescents in Malaysia. Adolescents who spend longer duration in smartphone usage per week were associated with higher odds of having smartphone addiction. Parents should be more alert and vigilant about this finding. Hence, parents should limit their children from spending too much of time with smartphone in order to prevent their children from getting smartphone addiction.

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