Smartphone addiction and health promotion lifestyle in university students: a cross-sectional analytical study

Abstract Objectives: Smartphones have become essential, making our daily lives more manageable; however, excessive use may cause problems. University students are particularly vulnerable to smartphone addiction. This study examines the relationship between smartphone addiction and health-promoting lifestyles among university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 911 students at Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey. Data were collected via Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). The printed forms were used, and the researcher administered the survey in person and recorded the responses. Results: Prevalence of smartphone addiction was 34.1%. Several factors were significantly associated, including female gender ( p = 0.049), being single ( p = 0.042), self-perceived smartphone addiction ( p < 0.001), daytime sleepiness ( p < 0.001), and poor sleep quality ( p < 0.001). Students with smartphone addiction had significantly lower HPLP II scores ( p = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that gender was no longer a significant factor. Those without a partner (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.07–2.03), those who considered themselves smartphone addicts (OR: 6.86, 95% CI: 4.99–9.42), and those with daytime sleepiness (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.08–2.14) had higher odds of smartphone addiction. Higher HPLP II scores were protective against smartphone addiction (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–0.99). Conclusions: This study highlights that students with smartphone addiction engage in less health-promoting behaviours and experience poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Self-perceived smartphone addiction was strongly associated with actual addiction, while a healthier lifestyle appeared to have a protective effect. There is a need for strategies to promote healthy habits and reduce smartphone addiction among university students.