Mobile device addiction and prefrontal symptoms in college students

Abstract

Introduction: excessive use of mobile devices causes negative effects on physical and mental health. Objective: to establish the relationship between mobile device dependence and prefrontal symptoms. Methodology: a quantitative, descriptive, correlational, non-experimental cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample consisted of 859 students of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the National University of Chimborazo enrolled in the period May-September 2020, selected by simple random sampling. The Mobile Dependence Test was applied. Results: 51.5% have low excessive cell phone use, followed by 34.4% of university students with moderate abstinence. In the Prefrontal Symptom Inventory, alterations in social behavior were identified with 36% at a low level, and in prefrontal symptoms with 35% at a severe level. Also, moderate positive relationships were found between mobile device dependence and prefrontal symptoms. Conclusion: mobile device addiction in college students is significantly related to prefrontal symptoms. General area of study: Clinical Psychology. Specific area of study: Neuropsychology. Type of study: Original article.