Association between the pattern of mobile phone use and sleep quality in Northeast China college students

OBJECTIVES

Currently, mobile penetration is high amongst college students. The aims of this study were to investigate the characteristics of mobile phone use and to explore the influence of mobile phone use characteristics on sleep quality amongst college students.

METHODS

From December 2016 to January 2017, we collected mobile phone use characteristics and sleep quality data using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and standardised questionnaires that were answered by 4500 medical university students in Liaoning Province (actual response rate of 94%, n = 4234 college students). This study used the SPSS 21.0 software to establish the database and perform the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred percent of the college students had mobile phones and used mobile phones for entertainment (91%), work (51%), obtaining information (61%), and other purposes (23%). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in the PSQI score between students who held the phone at a distance of more than 10 cm from their eyes and those who held it a distance of less than 10 cm (P = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of poor sleep quality was 1.21-1.53 times higher for those who spent more than 5 h a day using their phones and 1.41-1.59 times higher for those who used their phones for more than half an hour before going to bed when the lights were off.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily cumulative mobile phone use and use with the lights off before sleep are associated with poorer sleep quality.

Differences in Visual Working and Mobile Phone Usage Distance according to the Job Profile

PURPOSE

To analyze and characterize the pattern of visual working distance (WD) and mobile phone usage distance (MPD) in a large population, analyzing the differences in these parameters according to the job profile.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study consisting of a screening campaign evaluating the visual status of professionals from seven different environments. A total of 454 participants with a mean age of 41.5 years (range, 22-64 years) were revised. The screening campaign consisted of several rapid tests performed in a single session in the usual work environment of each participant, including measurement of WD, arm length, and MPD (VisionApp, VisionApp Solutions S.L.).

RESULTS

WD was significantly longer than MPD (82.5 ± 150.6 vs. 31.9 ± 6.3 cm, p < .001), whereas no significant differences were found between arm length (74.3 ± 4.8 cm) and WD (p = .493). WD was below 80 cm in 89.6% (407/454) of participants, whereas MPD was below 40 cm in 89.0% (404/454). No significant correlation was found between WD and MPD (r = 0.126, p = .117). Statistically significant differences were detected among job profile subgroups in WD (p < .001), with military personnel showing significantly longer WD than other professionals (p ≤ 0.018). Significant differences were also found between job profile subgroups in MPD (p = .006), with shorter MPDs for shoe factory professionals compared to sellers (p = .046).

CONCLUSIONS

WD and MPD vary significantly among individuals, but always showing a shorter MPD. WD varies significantly also according to the job profile, being necessary to consider this information when selecting the most optimal optical aid in each case, especially for the compensation of presbyopia.