Our previous study suggested that early adolescents who spent more time using display devices during COVID-19 had significantly poorer outcomes in their health-related quality of life. This study further investigated the influence of excessive smartphone use during COVID-19 on early adolescents' health-related quality of life. A total of 409 early adolescents (mean age: 11.67 ± 0.72; range 10 - 13 years old) were recruited from secondary schools in Hong Kong. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) measured their health-related quality of life. The SF-36 consisted of eight scales: (1) physical functioning, (2) role limitation due to physical health problems, (3) bodily pain, (4) general health, (5) vitality (energy/fatigue), (6) social functioning, (7) role limitation due to emotional problems, and (8) mental health. The Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Form (SAS-SV) evaluated the symptoms of excessive smartphone use. The percentage of early adolescents having excessive smartphone use was similar for both genders during COVID-19 (male: 28.4%, female: 31.6%, χ2 = 0.46, p > 0.05). Except for physical functioning and role limitation due to physical health problems, the severity of excessive smartphone use was negatively associated with the mean score for the other six scales under the physical and mental domains of health-related quality of life (p < 0.001). Finally, the daily duration of smartphone use during weekends significantly predicted the severity of their excessive smartphone use. Therefore, early adolescents with higher severity of excessive smartphone use during COVID-19 had significantly poorer outcomes in their health-related quality of life.

Authors:
Mei-Chun Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Joanne Yip, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Mei-Chun Cheung is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong

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