Healthy Volunteers, Internet Addiction, Problematic Smartphone Use
Conditions
Keywords
Healthy Volunteers, Internet Addiction, Problematic Internet Use
Brief summary
This observational cross-sectional study examined associations among second-to-fourth digit ratio, handgrip strength, problematic smartphone-use symptoms, problematic Internet-use symptoms, and self-reported smartphone usage time in university students from different regional backgrounds. The analytic sample included 173 students aged 17-26 years from Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian regional backgrounds. Participants completed validated self-report scales for smartphone-use and Internet-use symptoms, and underwent anthropometric, hand morphology, and handgrip strength measurements. The study did not involve randomization, treatment assignment, intervention, or follow-up.
Detailed description
This exploratory observational cross-sectional study evaluated whether bilateral second-to-fourth digit ratio and handgrip strength were associated with smartphone-addiction symptom scores, Internet-addiction symptom scores, and self-reported smartphone usage time among university students from different regional backgrounds. The final analytic sample consisted of 173 participants aged 17-26 years, including Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian students. Regional-background comparisons and sex-specific associations were analyzed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation analyses, and sensitivity analyses adjusted for age and body mass index. The study was observational only and did not include any intervention, random allocation, treatment exposure, clinical procedure, or prospective follow-up.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Inonu University
Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University
Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
17 Years to 26 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* University students aged 17-26 years. * Classifiable sex and regional-background information. * Ability to understand the study procedures. * Written informed consent provided. * For participants younger than the legal age of majority, additional parent or legal guardian consent obtained according to institutional requirements.
Exclusion criteria
* Previous finger operation. * Finger prosthesis. * Median, radial, or ulnar nerve deformity. * Carpal tunnel syndrome. * Developmental or mental disorder preventing participation or valid assessment.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Internet-addiction symptom score | At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment | Internet-addiction symptoms assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Scale-Short Form. Higher scores indicate greater Internet-use symptom severity. |
| Smartphone-addiction symptom score | At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment | Smartphone-addiction symptoms assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Higher scores indicate greater smartphone-use symptom severity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Second-to-fourth digit ratio | At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment | Right and left second-to-fourth digit ratios calculated from index and ring finger lengths measured using a digital caliper. |
| Handgrip strength | At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment | Right and left handgrip strength measured using an electronic handgrip dynamometer. |
| Self-reported smartphone usage time | At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment | Daily smartphone usage time reported by participants in hours per day. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed