Dependencia al smartphone y salud mental en universitarios: un estudio transversal

Introduction: Excessive smartphone use was associated with indicators of psychological distress and was recognized as an emerging behavioral addiction in the digital era. This issue was particularly evident among university students. Objective: The study aimed to analyze the relationship between smartphone dependence and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in a Physical Education program. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational design was adopted. The sample consisted of 189 students who completed scales measuring depression, anxiety, stress, and smartphone dependence. Results: The findings showed positive and statistically significant associations between smartphone dependence and all three psychological dimensions, with moderate effect sizes. The strongest association was observed with stress. Additionally, 33.8% of the participants showed high smartphone dependence, and nearly half reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress at varying levels of severity. Discussion: These results were consistent with previous research that linked smartphone dependence to psychological distress. However, the findings were interpreted with caution due to the cross-sectional design, the use of self-reported measures, and limitations in sample representativeness. Conclusions: Smartphone dependence is associated with indicators of psychological distress and represents a relevant factor for guiding digital well-being strategies in higher education.