Relation of Smartphone Addiction, Sleep Quality, and Sustained Attention in Young Adults

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Objectives The present study aimed to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and sustained attention in young adults. Methods A correlational study was carried out among individuals aged 18–25 years residing in Ahmedabad. Participants first completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV). Those scoring above the cutoff were further assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0, applying Spearman’s rho correlation test. Results Findings revealed a significant positive association between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality (r = 0.576, p < 0.001). Sleep quality showed a significant negative correlation with sustained attention (r = − 0.589, p < 0.001), and smartphone addiction was also negatively correlated with sustained attention (r = − 0.511, p < 0.001). Conclusion The study concludes that higher levels of smartphone addiction are linked to poorer sleep quality and diminished sustained attention among young adults. smartphone addiction sleep quality sustained attention young adults Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 BACKGROUND Globalization and rapid advances in communication technologies have transformed human interaction. Initially, mobile phones served mainly for communication due to their portability and accessibility; however, smartphones equipped with multiple advanced functions soon replaced them [1] . The Oxford English Dictionary defines a smartphone as a mobile phone that includes touchscreen capability, internet access, and application support, among other computer-like features. Smartphones have become integral to daily life, with many individuals checking their devices immediately upon waking and before going to sleep. According to Griffiths [1] , behavioral addictions may arise from engaging in activities that induce excitement and reward-seeking behavior. Excessive smartphone use has now become a global concern, often interfering with sleep, driving, and academic activities. By 2020, there were approximately 3.5 billion smartphone users worldwide, up from 2.5 billion in 2016. India is projected to reach around 1.17 billion users by 2025, making it the second-largest smartphone market after China [2] . Extended use of smartphones has been associated with diminished sleep quality and physical discomfort, particularly among college students [3] . Sleep quality refers to one’s overall satisfaction with sleep, including aspects such as onset, maintenance, duration, and restoration [4] . Adults aged 18–35 are advised to obtain 7–8 hours of sleep daily [5] . Poor sleep quality has been associated with impairments in attention, working memory, and vigilance [6] . Attention—a fundamental cognitive function—can be classified as divided, alternating, sustained, or selective [7] . Previous research indicates that sleep deprivation negatively affects cognitive performance, leading to increased errors and lapses in attention [8] . Given the widespread use of smartphones for education and entertainment, it is important to understand their potential influence on sleep and attentional processes among young adults. The present study therefore sought to examine the relationships between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and sustained attention. METHODS Study Design and Participants: Young individuals (18–25 years old) from Ahmedabad's colleges and society participated in this correlational study. Using a smartphone for more than two hours every day for a minimum of a year and being able to comprehend basic spoken instructions were prerequisites for inclusion. There were both males and females. Written informed consent was given by the participants. Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV) : Used to identify smartphone addiction. Cutoff scores: >31 for males, > 33 for females [9] Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) : Used to assess sleep quality. [10] Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) : Used to assess sustained attention. [11] Procedure Participants first completed the SAS-SV. Those exceeding cutoff scores proceeded to complete the PSQI and DSST. Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using SPSS v20.0. Shapiro–Wilk test assessed normality. As the data were not normally distributed, non-parametric tests were applied. Spearman’s rho correlation was used to determine relationships among SAS-SV, PSQI, and DSST scores. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULT Correlation between S.A.S-SV and P.S.Q.I Interpretation There was moderate positive and significant correlation was found between S.A.S and P.S.Q.I. [p value < 0.001; r value = 0.576] Correlation between P.S.Q.I AND D.S.S.T Interpretation There was moderate negative and significant correlation was found between P.S.Q.I. and D.S.S.T [p value < 0.001; r value= -0.589] Correlation between S.A.S AND D.S.S.T Interpretation There was moderate negative and significant correlation was found between S.A.S and D.S.S.T [p value < 0.001; r value= -0.511 DISCUSSION Smartphones and Sleep Quality The influence of smartphone addiction on sleep quality has been widely examined. While smartphone use may not always shorten total sleep time, excessive engagement has been strongly associated with diminished sleep quality [3] . This indicates that frequent smartphone use can disturb the restorative aspects of sleep, even if duration remains unaffected. Similarly, Thomée, Härenstam, and Hagberg [12] found that prolonged mobile device use can lead to physical complaints such as headaches and neck pain, contributing to disrupted sleep. Collectively, evidence suggests that smartphone addiction may negatively affect sleep through both physical strain and psychological overstimulation. Sleep Quality and Attention Sleep quality is critical for maintaining emotional balance, mental health, and optimal cognitive function. Research by Rodrigues and Shigaeff [13] demonstrated that individuals with sleep disorders perform less efficiently on attention-demanding tasks compared with those who sleep regularly. Likewise, Becker et al. [14] found a strong link between students’ sleep quality and academic achievement, emphasizing that good sleep enhances physical and mental health. Students who experience sufficient, high-quality sleep tend to have greater energy, lower anxiety, and improved motivation, whereas poor sleep leads to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. These findings reinforce the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits to support cognitive performance in young adults. Smartphone Addiction and Attention The relationship between smartphone addiction and attentional control has become a growing area of research. Prasetyadi and Gustaman [15] reported no statistically significant correlation between attentional ability and smartphone addiction (p = 0.06). Other studies, however, have suggested that prolonged screen exposure may influence cognitive efficiency, although findings remain inconsistent. Recent evidence has associated excessive digital device usage with symptoms of anxiety, mental fatigue, and reduced focus. This suggests that chronic smartphone use might gradually diminish sustained attention and cognitive flexibility, even though the current research base remains divided. Limitation Of the Study This study has certain limitations. First, the correlational design does not allow causal inferences between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and sustained attention. Second, the sample was limited to young adults from a single geographic region, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Third, self-reported measures were used to assess smartphone addiction and sleep quality, which may be subject to reporting bias. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples, objective sleep measures, and longitudinal designs are recommended. Recommendation For Future Study Future studies can be done with a larger sample size to get the more appropriate result. Studies can be done by correlating smartphone addiction, sleep quality and attention in adolescents and in older-adults. Studies can be done by taking consideration into selective, alternating and divided attention. CONCLUSION The findings of this study indicate that higher levels of smartphone addiction are associated with poorer sleep quality and reduced sustained attention among young adults. While these relationships are statistically significant, causal conclusions cannot be drawn due to the correlational nature of the study. Nevertheless, the results highlight the importance of promoting healthy smartphone usage habits to support sleep health and cognitive functioning in young adults. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate : The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki . The study was conducted following the Declaration of Gujarat University and approved by the Ethical Committee of J.G. College of Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their inclusion in the study. Consent for publication : Not Applicable Competing interests : The authors declare that they have no competing interests Funding: Approved Author Contribution Dr. Chandrika Morwal conceptualized the study, collected and analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. Dr. Apeksha Vaghasiya contributed to study design and data interpretation. Both the authors read and approved the final manuscript. Data Availability The datasets generated or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. References 1. Griffiths, M. D. (2000). Internet addiction—Time to be taken seriously? Addiction Research, 8(5), 413–418. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/addres.8.5.413 2. Statista. (2020). Number of smartphone users worldwide from 2016 to 2025 (in billions). https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-usersworldwide 3. Lee, J., Kim, E., & Kim, C. (2017). The relationship between smartphone use and sleep quality among college students in Korea. Sleep Medicine, 32, 85–90. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/sleepmed.32.85 4. Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research, 28(2), 193–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4 5. National Sleep Foundation. (2015). National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: Methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010 6. Durmer, J. S., & Dinges, D. F. (2005). Neurocognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Seminars in Neurology, 25(1), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/sineu.2005.25.1.117 7. Posner, M. I., & Petersen, S. E. (1990). The attention system of the human brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 13 , 25–42. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ne.13.030190.000325 8. Lim, J., & Dinges, D. F. (2010). A meta-analysis of the impact of short-term sleep deprivation on cognitive variables. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 375–389. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018883 9. Kwon, M., Kim, D. J., Cho, H., & Yang, S. (2013). The Smartphone Addiction Scale: Development and validation of a short version for adolescents. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e83558. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083558 10. Rathakrishnan B, Bikar Singh SS, Kamaluddin MR, Yahaya A, Mohd Nasir MA, Ibrahim F, Ab Rahman Z. Smartphone addiction and sleep quality on academic performance of university students: exploratory research. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 5;18(16):8291. 11. Jaeger J. Digit Symbol Substitution Test: the case for sensitivity over specificity in neuropsychological testing. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018 Oct;38(5):513–519. doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000941. 12. Thomée, S., Härenstam, A., & Hagberg, M. (2011). Mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults—A prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-66 13. Rodrigues, R., & Shigaeff, N. (2022). Impact of sleep disorders on sustained attention and cognitive processing speed. Journal of Sleep Research, 31(4), e13542. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jsr.13542 14. Becker, S. P., Adams, Z. W., Orr, C., & Quilter, J. (2008). Sleep quality and academic performance: The mediating role of mental health among college students. Journal of American College Health, 56(6), 658–664. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jach.2008.56.6.658 15. Prasetyadi, A., & Gustaman, L. (2022). Correlation between smartphone addiction and attention among university students. Journal of Behavioral Research, 5(2), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jbr.2022.112 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8709854","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":590353534,"identity":"16d6e28c-7c2c-4e68-bd2f-a62f1ddc7f50","order_by":0,"name":"Dr. Chandrika Morwal","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABFUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCSDmYZAwgHIt5PjZG4C0gQXRWiSMJXsOgLRIENLCANeSuOFGAkwcO+Cf3fzswds9Fsb80w4f+8xTI5E4c+bzqxt+FEgw8Ld3J2C15M4xc8M5zyTMJG6nJc/mOSZh3C+dU3azB+gwiTNnN2DTYiCRYCbNc0DChuF2jjFzDpuE7MzZOWk3eIBaDCRycWhJ/wbWIg/W8k+CccPNM2k3/+DVkgO2xcwApCW3TUJxww32Y7fx2SJxI6dMcs4BCWNDoF+Y//aBAjmH7baMgQQPLr/wz0jfJvHmQJ3hvNvJhxlnfLMBRuXxZzff/AEy2nuxasEGeMCRxEOschBgf0CK6lEwCkbBKBj+AAA0wV9NVQqfDAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Dr. D.Y. 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Initially, mobile phones served mainly for communication due to their portability and accessibility; however, smartphones equipped with multiple advanced functions soon replaced them \u003csup\u003e[1]\u003c/sup\u003e. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a smartphone as a mobile phone that includes touchscreen capability, internet access, and application support, among other computer-like features. Smartphones have become integral to daily life, with many individuals checking their devices immediately upon waking and before going to sleep.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccording to Griffiths \u003csup\u003e[1]\u003c/sup\u003e, behavioral addictions may arise from engaging in activities that induce excitement and reward-seeking behavior. Excessive smartphone use has now become a global concern, often interfering with sleep, driving, and academic activities. By 2020, there were approximately 3.5\u0026nbsp;billion smartphone users worldwide, up from 2.5\u0026nbsp;billion in 2016. India is projected to reach around 1.17\u0026nbsp;billion users by 2025, making it the second-largest smartphone market after China \u003csup\u003e[2]\u003c/sup\u003e. Extended use of smartphones has been associated with diminished sleep quality and physical discomfort, particularly among college students \u003csup\u003e[3]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSleep quality refers to one\u0026rsquo;s overall satisfaction with sleep, including aspects such as onset, maintenance, duration, and restoration \u003csup\u003e[4]\u003c/sup\u003e. Adults aged 18\u0026ndash;35 are advised to obtain 7\u0026ndash;8 hours of sleep daily \u003csup\u003e[5]\u003c/sup\u003e. Poor sleep quality has been associated with impairments in attention, working memory, and vigilance \u003csup\u003e[6]\u003c/sup\u003e. Attention\u0026mdash;a fundamental cognitive function\u0026mdash;can be classified as divided, alternating, sustained, or selective \u003csup\u003e[7]\u003c/sup\u003e. Previous research indicates that sleep deprivation negatively affects cognitive performance, leading to increased errors and lapses in attention \u003csup\u003e[8]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGiven the widespread use of smartphones for education and entertainment, it is important to understand their potential influence on sleep and attentional processes among young adults. The present study therefore sought to examine the relationships between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and sustained attention.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"METHODS","content":"\u003cp\u003eStudy Design and Participants: Young individuals (18–25 years old) from Ahmedabad's colleges and society participated in this correlational study. Using a smartphone for more than two hours every day for a minimum of a year and being able to comprehend basic spoken instructions were prerequisites for inclusion. There were both males and females. Written informed consent was given by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003col\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eSmartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV)\u003c/b\u003e: Used to identify smartphone addiction. Cutoff scores: \u0026gt;31 for males, \u0026gt; 33 for females \u003csup\u003e[9]\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)\u003c/b\u003e: Used to assess sleep quality.\u003csup\u003e[10]\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDigit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)\u003c/b\u003e: Used to assess sustained attention.\u003csup\u003e[11]\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003c/ol\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eProcedure\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipants first completed the SAS-SV. Those exceeding cutoff scores proceeded to complete the PSQI and DSST.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStatistical Analysis\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eData were analyzed using SPSS v20.0. Shapiro–Wilk test assessed normality. As the data were not normally distributed, non-parametric tests were applied. Spearman’s rho correlation was used to determine relationships among SAS-SV, PSQI, and DSST scores. Significance was set at p \u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \n\n \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"RESULT","content":"\u003ch3\u003eCorrelation between S.A.S-SV and P.S.Q.I\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInterpretation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was moderate positive and significant correlation was found between S.A.S and P.S.Q.I. [p value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r value\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.576]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCorrelation between P.S.Q.I AND D.S.S.T\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInterpretation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was moderate negative and significant correlation was found between P.S.Q.I. and D.S.S.T [p value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r value= -0.589]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCorrelation between S.A.S AND D.S.S.T\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInterpretation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was moderate negative and significant correlation was found between S.A.S and D.S.S.T [p value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r value= -0.511\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eSmartphones and Sleep Quality\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe influence of smartphone addiction on sleep quality has been widely examined. While smartphone use may not always shorten total sleep time, excessive engagement has been strongly associated with diminished sleep quality \u003csup\u003e[3]\u003c/sup\u003e. This indicates that frequent smartphone use can disturb the restorative aspects of sleep, even if duration remains unaffected. Similarly, Thom\u0026eacute;e, H\u0026auml;renstam, and Hagberg \u003csup\u003e[12]\u003c/sup\u003e found that prolonged mobile device use can lead to physical complaints such as headaches and neck pain, contributing to disrupted sleep. Collectively, evidence suggests that smartphone addiction may negatively affect sleep through both physical strain and psychological overstimulation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSleep Quality and Attention\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSleep quality is critical for maintaining emotional balance, mental health, and optimal cognitive function. Research by Rodrigues and Shigaeff \u003csup\u003e[13]\u003c/sup\u003e demonstrated that individuals with sleep disorders perform less efficiently on attention-demanding tasks compared with those who sleep regularly. Likewise, Becker et al. \u003csup\u003e[14]\u003c/sup\u003e found a strong link between students\u0026rsquo; sleep quality and academic achievement, emphasizing that good sleep enhances physical and mental health. Students who experience sufficient, high-quality sleep tend to have greater energy, lower anxiety, and improved motivation, whereas poor sleep leads to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. These findings reinforce the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits to support cognitive performance in young adults.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSmartphone Addiction and Attention\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe relationship between smartphone addiction and attentional control has become a growing area of research. Prasetyadi and Gustaman \u003csup\u003e[15]\u003c/sup\u003e reported no statistically significant correlation between attentional ability and smartphone addiction (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.06). Other studies, however, have suggested that prolonged screen exposure may influence cognitive efficiency, although findings remain inconsistent. Recent evidence has associated excessive digital device usage with symptoms of anxiety, mental fatigue, and reduced focus. This suggests that chronic smartphone use might gradually diminish sustained attention and cognitive flexibility, even though the current research base remains divided.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimitation Of the Study\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study has certain limitations. First, the correlational design does not allow causal inferences between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and sustained attention. Second, the sample was limited to young adults from a single geographic region, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Third, self-reported measures were used to assess smartphone addiction and sleep quality, which may be subject to reporting bias. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples, objective sleep measures, and longitudinal designs are recommended.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecommendation For Future Study\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFuture studies can be done with a larger sample size to get the more appropriate result.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudies can be done by correlating smartphone addiction, sleep quality and attention in adolescents and in older-adults.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudies can be done by taking consideration into selective, alternating and divided attention.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study indicate that higher levels of smartphone addiction are associated with poorer sleep quality and reduced sustained attention among young adults. While these relationships are statistically significant, causal conclusions cannot be drawn due to the correlational nature of the study. Nevertheless, the results highlight the importance of promoting healthy smartphone usage habits to support sleep health and cognitive functioning in young adults.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":" \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e \u003cb\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki\u003c/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003e The study was conducted following the Declaration of Gujarat University and approved by the Ethical Committee of J.G. College of Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their inclusion in the study.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e \u003cb\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eNot Applicable\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003e \u003cb\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eApproved\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDr. Chandrika Morwal conceptualized the study, collected and analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. Dr. Apeksha Vaghasiya contributed to study design and data interpretation. Both the authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1. Griffiths, M. D. (2000). Internet addiction\u0026mdash;Time to be taken seriously? Addiction Research, 8(5), 413\u0026ndash;418. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/addres.8.5.413\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2. Statista. (2020). Number of smartphone users worldwide from 2016 to 2025 (in billions). https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-usersworldwide\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3. Lee, J., Kim, E., \u0026amp; Kim, C. (2017). The relationship between smartphone use and sleep quality among college students in Korea. Sleep Medicine, 32, 85\u0026ndash;90. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/sleepmed.32.85\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4. Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., \u0026amp; Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research, 28(2), 193\u0026ndash;213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5. National Sleep Foundation. (2015). National Sleep Foundation\u0026rsquo;s sleep time duration recommendations: Methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40\u0026ndash;43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6. Durmer, J. S., \u0026amp; Dinges, D. F. (2005). Neurocognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Seminars in Neurology, 25(1), 117\u0026ndash;129. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/sineu.2005.25.1.117\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7. Posner, M. I., \u0026amp; Petersen, S. E. (1990). \u003cem\u003eThe attention system of the human brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 13\u003c/em\u003e, 25\u0026ndash;42. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ne.13.030190.000325\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8. Lim, J., \u0026amp; Dinges, D. F. (2010). A meta-analysis of the impact of short-term sleep deprivation on cognitive variables. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 375\u0026ndash;389. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018883\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9. Kwon, M., Kim, D. J., Cho, H., \u0026amp; Yang, S. (2013). The Smartphone Addiction Scale: Development and validation of a short version for adolescents. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e83558. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083558\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10. Rathakrishnan B, Bikar Singh SS, Kamaluddin MR, Yahaya A, Mohd Nasir MA, Ibrahim F, Ab Rahman Z. Smartphone addiction and sleep quality on academic performance of university students: exploratory research. \u003cem\u003eInt J Environ Res Public Health.\u003c/em\u003e 2021 Aug 5;18(16):8291.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e11. Jaeger J. Digit Symbol Substitution Test: the case for sensitivity over specificity in neuropsychological testing. \u003cem\u003eJ Clin Psychopharmacol.\u003c/em\u003e 2018 Oct;38(5):513\u0026ndash;519. doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000941.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12. Thom\u0026eacute;e, S., H\u0026auml;renstam, A., \u0026amp; Hagberg, M. (2011). Mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults\u0026mdash;A prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 66. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-66\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e13. Rodrigues, R., \u0026amp; Shigaeff, N. (2022). Impact of sleep disorders on sustained attention and cognitive processing speed. Journal of Sleep Research, 31(4), e13542. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jsr.13542\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e14. Becker, S. P., Adams, Z. W., Orr, C., \u0026amp; Quilter, J. (2008). Sleep quality and academic performance: The mediating role of mental health among college students. Journal of American College Health, 56(6), 658\u0026ndash;664. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jach.2008.56.6.658\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15. Prasetyadi, A., \u0026amp; Gustaman, L. (2022). Correlation between smartphone addiction and attention among university students. Journal of Behavioral Research, 5(2), 112\u0026ndash;120. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jbr.2022.112\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"smartphone addiction, sleep quality, sustained attention, young adults","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8709854/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8709854/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eExcessive smartphone use has become increasingly common among young adults and may negatively influence both sleep patterns and attentional abilities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eObjectives\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present study aimed to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and sustained attention in young adults.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA correlational study was carried out among individuals aged 18\u0026ndash;25 years residing in Ahmedabad. Participants first completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale\u0026ndash;Short Version (SAS-SV). Those scoring above the cutoff were further assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0, applying Spearman\u0026rsquo;s rho correlation test.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFindings revealed a significant positive association between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.576, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Sleep quality showed a significant negative correlation with sustained attention (r = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.589, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and smartphone addiction was also negatively correlated with sustained attention (r = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.511, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study concludes that higher levels of smartphone addiction are linked to poorer sleep quality and diminished sustained attention among young adults.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Relation of Smartphone Addiction, Sleep Quality, and Sustained Attention in Young Adults","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-16 05:40:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8709854/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"66eedec2-ce59-42fa-8e4d-f064d6983c46","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 16th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-16T07:24:45+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-16 05:40:05","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8709854","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8709854","identity":"rs-8709854","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}