Pattern of Mobile Usage and Psychological Morbidity Among Physiotherapy Students Studying in Rural District of Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Mobile use has become an integral part of everyone’s life and current day to day living. Mobile-internet addiction has become a major public issue among various stakeholders, policy makers, school management including mental health professionals. Although mobile phones and the Internet are used as communication tools, excessive use of these technological tools causes individuals to become addicted. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among the physiotherapy students at Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar. Data was collected using the Problematic Mobile phone usage questionnaire (PMPUQ) to assess pattern of mobile phone use and MINI Plus to assess psychological morbidity. Results: Among the 60 participants in our study, 26(43.33%) of them had psychiatric morbidity. The most common disorder identified was major depressive disorder (20%). Out of those that had psychiatric morbidity, 20(33.33%) of them scored high on the dependence subscale of the PMPUQ. Conclusion: Excessive use of mobile phones leads to negative psychological consequences. There is an urgent need to create awareness as well as develop effective preventive measures and treatment strategies in order to curb the inappropriate use of mobile phones especially among the student population.