Examining the correlation between smartphone addiction and social and emotional loneliness levels of nursing students

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between nursing students’ smartphone addiction and their social and emotional loneliness levels.
METHODS: This study was designed as a descriptive-cross-sectional trial. The study was conducted between May 15, 2022, and June 30, 2022. The sample of the study consisted of students (n=243) who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected using the “Personal Information Form,” “Smartphone Addiction Scale” (SAS), and “Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA-S).”
RESULTS: It was found that the students’ mean scores were 29.89±10.75 in the SAS-Short Version and 58.62±11.14 in the SELSA-S. Men’s family emotional loneliness levels were higher than the levels of the women; 4th-year students had lower levels of smartphone addiction and higher levels of social loneliness. Romantic emotional loneliness levels of the students who used smartphones for communication-chat were higher than those who use smartphones for entertainment-music and social media. Those with insufficient friendship and family relationships had higher smartphone addiction levels.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was found between smartphone addiction and social and emotional loneliness. As the level of smartphone addiction increased, the level of social and emotional loneliness increased. It is recommended to implement programs to fight smartphone addiction to protect and promote the psychological health of university students.