Impact of usage of Cellular phones on Study Habbits of

students and their Psycho social development: A case

study of Sindh university students.
Lubna Ahmed Soomro, Shabana Tunio

Abstract:
The present study aimed to investigate the impact of usage of cellular phones on

psychosocial development of students. A survey was conducted using Simple random

sampling technique from different departments of Sindh University. Mobile Phone Use

Questionnaire (MPS) developed by Bianchi and Philips (2005) and General Health

Questionnaire GHQ developed by Goldberg (2004) were used to measure the impact of

cell phones and psychological Well being of the students. The survey consisted of 27

Questions in the areas of social psychological familial and study difficulties. Simple

Likert type Scale used in this survey ranging from 1(not true at all) to 5 (extremely

true). Higher scores on scale indicate higher impact of usage of cell phone in student’s

life. Hypothesis about impact of cellular phones on study habits of Students were

formulated and tested on different aspects of cellular phone usage. It was found that

majority of the students spend more time using cell phones which have a large effect on

their psychosocial development. Students keep their cell phones switched on 24 hours,

and they are equipped with almost every feature of cell phones. It was also significantly

tested true that students who spend more time using cell phones were more vulnerable

to psychological disturbance and the degree of attachment towards the cell phones

caused students to experience symptoms such as Anxiety, Depression or even Lack of

sleep, which affected their overall psychological functioning .

Key Words: Mobile phone use Questionnaire, Psycho social development,

Psychological Wellbeing, Anxiety, depression

1
Introduction:
We are living in an era of science and modern technology. In the 21 st century the nations

which are doing well in fields such as computer and super computer, information technology,

electronics, biotechnology and telecommunications are normally regarded most modern and

scientifically advanced nations. Pakistan is trying at its best of level to acquire trend of

modernization. In the field of telecommunication cellular phones are wonderful invention of

science. Cell phones were introduced First time in 1983. According to newspaper “The

News” (Wednesday, 28th October 2009) by the November 2008 cellular subscribers in

Pakistan were 90.41 million and Pakistan ranks 5th in Asia in mobile users and stands 4th in

MS usage. Cell phones are used for communication, entertainment; preserving memories etc.

It jmoffers a number of functions as making or receiving calls, SMS (short massage service),

MMS (Multi media massage), Bluetooth, infrared, recording audios and videos which attracts

users. This study is conducted to analyze the impact of use of cellular phone on psychosocial

development of university students. Cellular phones are perceived as a useful and important

for conversation, entertainment, and preserving memories (with the help of recording

functions). It helps students to achieve many educational tasks and makes easy for university

students to keep in touch with relatives. But at the same time it affects inversely the studies of

students by following means: 1. Cellular phones disturb and distract the concentration of

students in class; 2. Excessive use of cellular phones keeps students busy and they find less

time for studies; 3.It promotes copy culture; 4. Make limited the students’ contacts; 5. Affects

students health by increasing level of depression, stress, and loss of appetite; 6.It damages the

areas of brain associated with learning, memory and movement; 7. Use of cellular phones in

classes, libraries, and public places violates social norms, the appropriate and acceptable

behavior associated with certain situations is not regulated.

2
Literature review:
The cellular phone is viewed as an important communication tool and has become

integral part of our society. People are increasingly using cellular phones rather than the fixed

line telephone as a way to keep in touch with their family, friends, colleagues and business

associates. Cellular phone first appeared in Pakistan in 1992 and was mainly used by

professionals. The first generation of the cellular Phone was built with basic features such as

voice calls. Today cell phones are equipped with other features that allow further

communication and entertainment such as Short message service (SMS), MP3, MPEG-1

(Audio Layer 3), Games, Internet and videos are the additional features which have attracted

the younger generation and consequently led to increase in the number of cell phones users in

Pakistan.

The main users of cellular phones were those ranging in age from 20 to 50 while pre-

teens and students below 19 years old make up 20.9% and the elderly consist of 12.3%. Thus,

it seems that young adults are significant cell phone users in Pakistan (Abdullah, 2004).

Younger generation claimed that owning a cell phone is essential part of their life. This is not

surprising as the younger generations are digital natives i.e. (individuals born in the

technological era) and will naturally be easily attracted to any technological gadgets. Our

youth furthermore took the cell phones not just as tool for communication but, also as a way

to express themselves (Ito and Okabe, 2004) and more importantly to look hip and cool

(Ling, 2001).

According to Australian Psychological Society (2004) Cellular phones provide an

avenue to improve and maintain students’ social relations. Adolescent girls tend to develop

the skills required to maintain their social networks as they attain their adult position in

society (Bianchi and Philips, 2005). Philips (2005) in his study found that female students use

the mobile phones for social reasons while male use for voice calls.

3
 Nurvitadhi (2003) in her study of cellular phone usage of students in Japan and USA

found that a large proportion of 69.53% of Japanese students preferred using the text

messaging service while American students 35.5% favored the game features of cellular

phones. Cellular phone was design to allow communication between family members and

peers (Sachen, 2008). Studies have found that students who are preoccupied with their cell

phones tend to experience psychological disturbance (Seung-Ho and Jaehak, 2008). In a

study involving 595 Korean students found that excessive use of hand phones causes students

to have depression, higher interpersonal anxiety, and lower self esteem (Jee Hyun et al.2008).

In an early study (Van Dan Bulck, 2003) reported that addictive cellular phone usage

could cause disturbance in sleep pattern. Students tend to engage in text messaging and feel

anxious when they are not receiving replies from their friends even during the nights when

they are supposed to be sleeping (Kamibeppu and Sugiura, 2005). This addictive behavior

tends to cause students to stay up late at night and thus disrupting their daily routines. Several

studies have shown that addictive behavior and lack of sleep is detrimental to one’s

psychological health and functioning (Frederickson, Roihdes 2004).

Students have reported using their cell phones to regularly contact their peers to chat,

gossip and share stories with each other. Thus cell phone also provides an avenue to improve

and maintain their social relationships (Australian psychological Society 2004) therefore the

study substantiated that cell phone could enhance relationship between youth and their family

and friends.

Research Questions;
The following research questions are addressed in this study:

1) What is the impact of usage of cellular phones on study habits of students?

2) What is the extent of mobile phone use (patterns & problem) of the students?
3) What is the relationship between the problem mobile phone use and the level of the
psychological health of the students?

4
Objectives:
 To assess the impact of cellular phones on study habits of students.
 To find out the relationship between usage of cellular phones and students’ social
contacts, sleeping habits, stress level, aggression and their concentration in studies.
 To asses the impact of usage of cell phones on psychosocial development of the
students.
 To know the relationship between use of cellular phone and deviant behavior among
students.
 To analyze the use of cellular phones in achieving educational tasks.

Hypotheses:
1. There would be positive relationship between excessive use of cellular phones and
students study problems.
2. The use of cellular phone among students is associated with the minimum level of
achieving educational tasks.
3. Use of cellular phones is correlated with the occurrence of psychological problems
found among students.

Research Methodology:

Research Design:
Survey design was used to measure attitude of students towards cell

phones and how it affects on their study habits.

Procedure:
In-depth, semi-structured questionnaire regarding attitudes, beliefs, and impact of
cellular phones, were conducted on 100 participants (50 male and 50 female) students in five
different departments of Sindh University. Results were calculated by using simple statistical
technique of drawing percentages and depicting graphs. In addition to these two
questionnaires, an interview was also conducted with each of the participant in order to get
demographic information from the participants. The questionnaires and the interview took
near to 40 min.
Data collection tools:
1. Mobile phone use survey (MPS) Developed by (Bianchi and Philips
2005.)
2. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) Goldberg 2004

Sampling Methodology:

Universe: University Of Sindh

Sampling Unit: 100
Sampling technique: Random sampling technique

5
Results:

MPS Scale Attitude in %

Calling 26.9
SMS 54.7
GPRS 5.66
Recording 13
Table-1: Student’s interest in function of mobile

Figure 1

MPS scale Attitude in %

Parents 64.7
With whom they have business 5.88
Fiancé or supposed to married 11.76
Friends and other relatives 17.6
Table-2: Students are in most contact by mobile

Figure 2

6
 MPS scale Attitude in %
Put it off 11.76
Silent mode 80.39
Keep it normal 7.8
Any other 0
Table-3: What they do of mobile phone in class.

Figure 3

MPS scale Attitude in %

Put it off 13.46
Silent mode 65
Keep it normal 21
Any other 0
Table-4: What they do of mobile phone while self study

Figure 4

7
 MPS scale Attitude in %
Yes, They know 75.92
No, they don’t know 24
Table-5: Students awareness about hazardous of cell phone on health

Figure 5

MPS scale Attitude in %

Useful 39.6
Useful at some extent 60
Useless 00
Any other 00
Table-6: Attitude about usefulness of cell phone

Figure 6

8
 MPS scale Attitude in %
Very much 40.7
At some extent 27.7
Not much 29.6
Any other 1.8
Table-7: How much cellular phone helps to achieve educational task

Figure 7

MPS scale Attitude in %

Very much 36
At some extent 32
Not much 32
Any other 0
Table-8: Cellular phone makes disturbance in studies

Figure 8

9
 MPSA scale Attitude in %
Very much 31
At some extent 39
Not much 29
Any other 0
Table-9: Cellular phones are used for cheating in examination

Figure 9

MPS scale Attitude in %

Very much 50
At some extent 38
Not much 9.6
Any other 1.9
Table-10: Crime and deviance behavior is practiced via mobile

Figure 10

10
 MPS scale Attitude in %
Very much 59
At some extent 20
Not much 12.9
Any other 7.4
Table-11: Language skills has been badly affected due to mobile phone

Figure 11

MPS scale Attitude in %

Very much 46
At some extent 16
Not much 36
Any other 2
Table-12: Due to mobile, social contacts has been limited

Figure 12

11
 MPS scale Attitude in %
Very much 34
At some extent 22
Not much 34
Any other 10
Table-13: Due to number of functions offered by mobile, students do not
find time for study

Figure 13

MPS scale Attitude in %

Very much 1
At some extent 56
Not much 32
Any other 2
Table-14: Cellular phone increases stress level

Figure 14

12
 MPS scale Attitude in %
Very much 18
At some extent 46
Not much 32
Any other 4
Table-15: cellular phone increases aggression

Figure 15

MPS Attitude in %
Very much 33
At some extent 47
Not much 19.60
Any other 0
Table-16: cellular phone causes sleeping disturbance

Figure 16

13
Discussion:
The results of the study show that most of cell phone users, particularly university

students consume their valuable time in typing and receiving text messages in their cell

phones. As results indicate that 54.7% of students from university expressed their interest in

SMS function in their mobile phones, next to this function is making calls i.e. 26.9% students

show their interest in making/ receiving call facility. Here, it is very much significant to note

that SMS, a facility in cell phones, solely is greater than any of other usage of cell phone,

even if you combine all other functions of the mobile phones (see Table# 01). In a question,

why do they use cell phone? The respondents viz. University students said that it is an

effective and useful tool to be in contact with their parents, friends and other relatives i.e.

more than 82% students said that mobile phones have connected them with their near and

dear ones very closely (see Table#02). On the other hand, the addictive usage of cell phone

has also been noted when majority of students i.e. more than 80% students said that they

practice to turn their cell phones on silent mode, NOT to turn them off, while in the class

rooms or when they are busy in their self-study (see Table#03 and 04). This attitude is really

very much surprising when 60% of the regular users of cell phones said that they do not

believe in perfect usefulness of the cell phones (see Table#06) and 76% of them said they are

aware of ill-effects of this electronic device (see Table#05). This anomalous situation really

alarms our society the epidemic and uncontrollable usage of cell phones, particularly in

University students, which affects their academic performance and career building.

Furthermore, this contradicted attitude is also found in University students in questions when

they were asked that ‘Do they think that the usage of cell phone help you in achieving

educational objectives?’ (see Table#07) and in another question that ‘Does the cell phone

usage really affects/ disturbs them in concentrating their studies?’ (see Table#08). In both of

the questions, 90% or more of students agree that cell phone really help them to achieve their

14
educational objectives and the same number of students complained the disturbance in their

studies due to cell phone usage. Now, the point here that surprises the researcher that the

thing which disturbs you in your studies cannot help you in achieving educational objectives

or the thing which really hinders you in achieving educational objectives cannot be tool to

make you to pay your full concentration in your studies. Now the syllogism of this above

statement is that if it (cell phone) is disruptive then it cannot help you to achieve your

educational objectives or if it (cell phone) helps you achieve your educational objectives then

it cannot be disruptive. The puzzling and inconsistent responses of University students made

the researcher to go through the results again and revise her plan of research design and check

the validity of the instruments. The mystery resolved when it has found that the majority of

the students were average or below average in their academic performance (demographic

information pointed it out). So, this has been concluded that when the students are not so

much good in their studies or do not pay attention in their work, they get another activity

which make them active, busy and more importantly same as his/ her fellow beings. This

distractive thinking and behavior leads them to use cell phone in access in order to put

impression on others, and/ or to assume oneself of the same or of higher status to his/ her

fellow beings. This unhealthy cognitive strategy effects inversely in their psychosocial

development.

Table#09 and 10 show the unlawful usages of cell phones. As, it has often been found

the role of mobile phones in criminal and illegal activities in our society. Most of the

respondents agreed upon the role of mobile phones in cheating in examination and/ or in

crime in society, at every level. Moreover, likewise any other electronic invention, it (cell

phone) has also affected the humanistic growth and development. The functions which the

earlier humans were doing by their own have been shifted to machines, which in turn has

badly affected on the development of language, aesthetic sense, and at most social norms (see

15
Table#11 & 12). Lack of humanistic roles and values and the excessive reliance on machines

have increased stress and other neurotic symptoms like aggression, lack of sleep and loss of

appetite etc. in human beings (see Table#14, 15 &16).

Conclusion:
This study provides new considerations for the debate on the impact of usage of cellular

phones on the psychosocial lives of students.  Data obtained in the present study provides

baseline information regarding the patterns  and problems  of mobile phone usage, and its

impact on study habits as well as psychological health of university students. As cell phone

usage continues to grow, social workers must be aware of current trends, language, and use

patterns that can alter the lives of our youth in both senses, positively and negatively,

including the way they behave, interact with others, and understand the world. This

information has significant implications for future directions in social work research on youth

development.

Suggestions:
The present study is not without its limitation. The findings are very specific and could only
be generalized to population with the same characteristics. Furthermore, the questionnaires
were self-administered; thus the reliability and validity of the information obtained depended
solely on the honesty of the respondents in responding to the questionnaire. Despite the
limitations,
1. The current study should provide the impetus for new investigations to refine the
understanding of mobile phone use amongst university students.
2. In addition, the consequences of intense mobile phone use could be further explored in
terms of degree of psychological symptoms experienced by users of the mobile telephone.
3. Researches have been done on psychological and social problems associated with mobile
phones, but more and more researches should be done on study problems which have been
neglected.
4. Keeping cell phone has become fashion and its misuse is also very common in our society,
students should be made aware of its negative effects on their studies and career
development.

16
References:
1. (2007) Cross-cultural comparison of perceptions and uses of mobile telephones
among college students – Journal of Youth studies.3.
2. Abdullah, M.Y.H.(2004). Adoption of cellular phone among young adults: A study
among youths in the Klan Valley, Malaysia.
3. Australian Psychological Society, (2004). The Psychosocial aspects of mobile phone
use among students.
4. Bianchi, Adriana; Phillips, James G. (2005).Psychological predictors of problem
mobile phone use.(2005) Cyber Psychology & Behavior. 8, 39-51.
5. Campbell Goldberg, D.P. & Williams, P. (1978). Manual of the General Health
Questionnaire. London: NFER Publishing
6. Campbell, Rachel (2006).Teenage girls and cellular phones: Discourses of
independence, safety, and 'rebellion'. Journal of Youth Studies.8, 195-212.
7. Franz Richard, adjunct.(2004). Youth and cell phones: observations and explorations.
clarity innovations,Inc.7.
8. Hardell, Lennart; Carl berg, Michael; Mild, Knell Hansson(2006). Case-control
study of the association between the use of cellular and cordless telephones and
malignant brain tumors diagnosed during 2000-2003. Environmental Research, 100,
232-241.
9. Igarashi, Tasuku; Takai, Jiro; Yoshida,Toshikazu .(2005).Gender differences in social
network development via mobile phone text messages: A longitudinal study. Journal
of Social and Personal Relationships,22.
10.Kamibeppu, Kiyoko (2007).Impact of the mobile phone on junior high school
students' friendships in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Cyber psychology & Behavior,
8, 121-130.
11.Lena, Koivusilta. (2005). Intensity of mobile phone use and health compromising
behaviors -How is information and communication technology connected to health-
related lifestyle in adolescence? Journal of Adolescence, 28, 35-47.
12.Ling (2007) Mobile phone usage among Norwegian youth – Journal of
psychology,5.
13.Madell, Dominic; Muncer, Steven (2004).Back from the beach but hanging on the
telephone? English adolescents' attitudes and experiences of mobile phones and the
internet. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 7, 359-367.
14.Madell, Dominic; Muncer, Steven (2008).Are internet and mobile phone
communication complementary activities amongst young people? A study from a
'rational actor' perspective. Information, Communication & Society,8, 64-80.
15.Peretti-Watel, Patrick; Legleye, Stephane; Beck, Francois. (2002 ).Cigarettes and
mobile phones: Are they complementary or substitutable products? Drugs:
Education, Prevention & Policy,9.
16.Redelmeier, D.A.,Tibshirani, R.J. (1997). Association between cellular-telephone
calls and motor vehicle collisions. New England Journal of Medicine, 336.
17.Rodgers, Anthony; Corbett, T.(2005) Do u smoke after txt? Results of a randomized
trial of smoking cessation using mobile phone text messaging. Tobacco Control,14,
255-261.
18.Van den Bulck, Jan. (2003).Text messaging as a cause of sleep interruption in
adolescents, evidence from a cross-sectional study. Journal of Sleep Research,12, 63-263
19.Williams, Stephen .,Williams, Lynda .( 2005). Space invaders: The negotiation of

17
teenage boundaries through the mobile phone. Sociological Review, 53, 314-331.

18