Introduction
It is clear from the analysis of the study by Cain, Daniyal et al., and Twenge et al. that excessive smartphone use harms students’ mental and physical health. The following arguments will be examined in this essay to support the thesis:
- Excessive smartphone use increases the risk of mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
- Smartphone use lowers academic performance.
- Universities and colleges should take action to address the adverse effects of smartphones on students’ mental and physical health.
Smartphones and Mental Health Risks
College students’ excessive smartphone use negatively influences their mental health and academic performance, demonstrating the need for universities to implement policies encouraging responsible phone usage. College students’ heightened mental health issues have been related to excessive smartphone use. Students who use cell phones and social media extensively are more likely to feel anxious and depressed, claims Jeff Cain’s essay. Similar findings were made by Muhammad Daniyal et al., who discovered that excessive mobile phone users had greater levels of stress, anxiety, and sadness. According to this research, smartphone use may affect college students’ subpar mental health results.
Impact on Academic Performance
Smartphones may have detrimental effects on mental health and lower academic achievement. According to Cain, social networking and excessive screen time might damage pupils’ ability to study. Similarly, Twenge et al. discovered a link between falling academic attainment and young people’s rising usage of cell phones and digital media. This study found that excessive smartphone use may hinder students’ capacity to concentrate and interact with learning materials, eventually resulting in poorer academic achievement.
Call for Institutional Intervention
Universities and colleges should put programs in place and enforce laws to encourage students to use their phones healthily to address the negative impact of cell phones on students’ mental and physical health. According to Cain, several schools and institutions have already addressed this problem by enacting policies and programs, including smartphone-free zones and digital health initiatives. Universities and colleges may help students lessen the harmful effects of excessive phone use on mental and physical health by fostering good phone use practices.
Conclusion
Finally, excessive smartphone use by college students has a detrimental effect on their physical and mental health and academic performance. The study by Cain, Twenge et al., and Daniyal et al. highlights that colleges and institutions need to address this issue by implementing policies and programs that encourage responsible phone usage. Further investigation may be done to examine the connection between smartphone use and college students’ mental and physical health and the efficacy of different therapies. Universities and colleges should acknowledge the possible drawbacks of excessive smartphone use and take action to solve these problems. If people combine to solve this problem, they can give college students a healthier and more effective learning environment.
Works Cited
Cain, Jeff. “It’s Time to Confront Student Mental Health Issues Associated with Smartphones and Social Media.” The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol. 82, no. 7, 2018, p. 6862. Web.
Daniyal, Muhammad, et al. “The Relationship between Cellphone Usage on the Physical and Mental Well-being of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 15, 2022, p. 9352. Web.
Twenge, Jean M., et al. “Age, Period, and Cohort Trends in Mood Disorder Indicators and Suicide-Related Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Dataset, 2005–2017.” Journal of Abnormal Psychology, vol. 128, no. 3, 2019, pp. 185-199. Web.