PREVALENCE OF NECK PAIN AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SMARTPHONE USE IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Background: Neck pain is increasingly prevalent among young adults, particularly university students, due to prolonged smartphone use and sustained poor postures. Excessive screen exposure has been associated with musculoskeletal strain, reduced physical activity, and postural dysfunction. Objective: To determine the prevalence of neck pain and its association with smartphone use among university students. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 university students using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire including demographic information, smartphone usage patterns, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Daily smartphone usage duration, years of use, and posture during use were recorded. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate prevalence. Chi-square test and Pearson correlation were applied to assess associations. A p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of neck pain among participants was 63.8%. A significant association was observed between daily smartphone usage (>4 hours/day) and neck pain (p<0.001). A moderate positive correlation was found between duration of smartphone use and NDI scores (r=0.42, p<0.001). Conclusion: Neck pain is highly prevalent among university students and is significantly associated with prolonged smartphone use. Preventive strategies including ergonomic education and usage regulation are recommended.