Correlation of Smart Phone Addiction and Academic Performance among Nursing Students of Private Nursing Colleges in Swat

Smartphone addiction has become a growing concern among students, negatively impacting their academic performance. Objective: To examine the correlation of smartphone addiction among nursing students with academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2024 to November 2024 in five private nursing colleges in Swat. The study included 249 nursing students from the 4th, 5th, and 8th semesters, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, incorporating the Academic Performance Scale (APS) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) (Cronbach’s alpha=0.911). Results: Findings revealed that 67.9% of students were addicted to smartphones, while 32.1% were not addicted. Academic performance assessment showed that a majority of students exhibited poor performance, with only a small proportion achieving good or excellent results. A strong negative correlation (r=-0.934, p<0.01) was observed between smartphone addiction and academic performance, confirming that excessive smartphone use significantly hampers academic success. Conclusions: It was concluded that smartphone addiction is a major factor contributing to poor academic performance among nursing students. To address this issue, awareness programs, time management strategies, and institutional policies should be implemented to promote responsible smartphone use.