The Multifaceted Impact of Electronic Device

Usage on Health

Prepared by :- Rahul Majgavkar

Vidhisha Naik
Aditi Patil
Mentor :- Mrs. Punav Save
College Name:- Modern Education Society's D. G. Ruparel College of Arts,
Science and Commerce

Date :- 3rd January 2023

1. SUMMARY :-

 This research aims to investigate the potential impact of electronic devices on both
physical and mental health, with the objective of determining the extent their
influence.
 For this purpose, a pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire created through
Google Forms.
 The main objectives are to study the use of electronic device by the users and to
assess the influence of electronic devices on both physical and mental well-being.
 After conducting statistical analysis, it was observed that the most prevalent physical
issue faced by individuals is eye strain, followed by headaches and back/neck pain.
 In terms of mental issues, the primary challenges reported are difficulty
concentrating or staying focused, followed by reduced face-to-face social
interactions. Graphical representation of the data is also done for better
understanding.
 From the research it can be concluded that while electronic devices can offer
positive benefits, such as promoting physical activity and providing access to health
resources, excessive use can lead to adverse effects on both physical and mental
well-being.
 2. INTRODUCTION :-

In an era where electronic devices have become an inseparable element of our daily
existence, their impact on our health has become an increasingly pertinent topic. From
smartphones to laptops, from tablets to wearable technology, these devices have
transformed the way we communicate, work, learn, and entertain ourselves. Despite the
increasing reliance on devices for various aspects of daily life, the acknowledgment of
potential health risks signifies a growing need for balanced and mindful use of technology.

The journey to understand the multifaceted impact of electronic devices on health is

ongoing. However, by exploring this complex relationship, we can empower individuals and
communities to leverage technology for its vast benefits while mitigating potential risks.

2.1 METHODOLOGY :-

To gather data for our study, we utilized a pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire

created through Google Forms. The data was collected from all age groups ranging from 11-
60 years with students and working professionals included in it. The questionnaire covered a
wide range of topics related to electronic gadgets, including their usage, type, effects on
sleep and daily activities, duration of usage, knowledge of potential hazards, and safety
measures to prevent such hazards.

2.2 RATIONALE:-
While electronic devices have multiple positive effects but there are a few negative impacts
too which are also need to be tackled at the right time. The most significant negative impact
of these devices is on the human physical and mental health. This research intends to
understand the health impacts of electronic gadgets on all age groups. Previous researches
conducted on this topic were mostly student centric but this research covers all the age
groups.
 3. FINDINGS :-
3.1 Average Time Spent on Electronic Devices:
Individuals nowadays spend an average of 5 hours per day engrossed in various electronic
devices. This prolonged usage is a result of the pervasive integration of technology into daily
routines, spanning work, entertainment, communication, and information consumption.

3.2 Usage Statistics of Different Devices:

 Mobile Phones (98.7%): Almost ubiquitously, 98.7% of the population regularly use
mobile phones. These devices serve multifaceted purposes, including
communication, browsing, social media engagement, and even work-related tasks.
 Laptops (49.1%): Nearly half of the population utilizes laptops as a primary
computing device. Their versatility in accommodating both professional and personal
tasks contributes to their widespread usage.
 Televisions (33.6%): While slightly less prevalent, 33.6% of individuals still
incorporate televisions into their daily routines for entertainment, news, and
relaxation.
 Headphones (43.4%): Headphones, used by 43.4% of the populace, are integral for
private audio consumption, providing personalized experiences for music, podcasts,
and calls.

3.3 Physical Issues Associated with Device Usage:

 Eye Strain: Prolonged screen exposure often leads to eye strain due to the blue light
emitted by devices. This strain can cause discomfort, dry eyes, and blurred vision,
affecting individuals across various age groups.
 Headaches: Frequent device usage is linked to headaches, often stemming from
prolonged screen time, eye strain, or poor posture while using electronic devices.
 Back and Neck Pain: Extended periods of device usage, especially when combined
with poor ergonomics, contribute to back and neck pain. Improper posture while
using devices like laptops or phones can strain the spine and neck muscles.

3.4 Mental Issues Linked to Device Usage:

 Difficulty Concentrating or Staying Focused: Continuous exposure to digital stimuli
can lead to reduced attention spans and difficulties in concentration. Notifications,
multitasking, and constant information influx contribute to this challenge.
 Reduced Face-to-Face Social Interactions: Over-reliance on electronic
communication methods often replaces in-person interactions.
 3.5 Graphs: No of people facing
Nomental
of peoplehealth
facing physical
issues
health issues
70
160
140
60
120 50
 Headaches are the most common 100 40
physical health issue, affecting 80
60 30
significantly more people than any 20

No of peope
40

No of people
other issue listed. 20 10
0
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 Neck or back pain and sleep problems ra ch le
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are also very common, affecting over He p

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 The remaining health issues listed are Ha

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less common, affecting fewer than 100

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Mental health issues

1. Prevalence of Headaches and

Neck/Back Pain: These are the most
common health issues across all age
Age vs Physical health
groups, with headaches consistently 80
affecting the highest number of people. 70
60
No of people

2. Variation in Eye Strain: Eye strain is

most prevalent in the youngest age 50
40
group (11-20) and decreases with
30
age. This could be due to increased
20
screen time among younger individuals. 10
3. Relatively Stable Sleep Problems: Sleep 0
11 to 20 20-30 30-40 40-50
problems affect a similar number of
people across the age groups, suggesting Age
it's a persistent issue regardless of age.
4. Increase in Hand/Wrist Discomfort with Eye strain Headaches
Age: This issue becomes more common Neck or back pain Sleep problems
in the older age groups (30-40 and 40- Hand or wrist discomfort
50), potentially indicating effects of repetitive work or age-related conditions.
 The survey suggests that mental health issues are a
major concern in India, with a large number of Device usage early morning
people reporting experiencing symptoms of
stress, anxiety, concentration problems, and social
media-related self-image issues.
 The increasing use of social media may be 40%
contributing to negative self-image and body image
concerns, particularly among younger people. 60%

 The graph highlights the importance of mental

health awareness and support in India.

yes no

1. Stress and Anxiety Peak in Young Adults: The 20-30 age group experiences the highest
levels of increased stress or anxiety, followed by the 11-20 age group. This suggests that
young adults may be particularly vulnerable to these mental health issues.

2. Concentration Issues Consistent Across

Ages: Difficulty concentrating or staying Age vs mental health
focused affects a similar number of
people in each age group, indicating that 30
it's a widespread issue that doesn't
discriminate based on age. 25

20
3. Social Media Impacts Younger Groups
No of people

More: Reduced face-to-face social

15
interactions and negative self-image or
body image concerns related to social
10
media are more prevalent in the younger
age groups (11-20 and 20-30), suggesting Increased stress or anxiety
5
that social media may have a more
Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
significant impact on the mental health of
0
younger individuals. Reduced 11face-to-face
to 20 social interactions
20-30 30-40 40-50
Negative self-image or body
Ageimage concerns re-
 The graph suggests that a majority lated to social media
of people either choose not to use
devices or don't have the habit of
using them right after waking up.
 This graph suggest that majority( 79%) of the people use their devices just before
bedtime due to which they face serious issues such as eye strain and headache.

Device usage before bedtime

21%

79%

yes no
3.5 Model:

The fitted model using Generalized Linear Model is :

y¿ 0.20034 +0.01060 x1 +0.019045 x 2 +0.28879 x 3+ 0.19266 x 4 - 0.05453 x 5 - 0.13017 x 6

where y=sleep disturbances

x 1=age

x2 = device usage hours

x 3= device usage before bed time
x 4 =device usage in early morning
x 5= daily sleep hours
x 6=distance of device from face

 The positive coefficient (0.01945) suggests that more hours of device usage are
associated with a slight increase in the response variable.
 Another positive coefficient (0.19266) implies that higher values of this variable are
associated with higher values of the response variable, holding other predictors
constant.
 The negative coefficient (-0.13017) suggests that the distance of device usage might
have a negative impact on the response variable.
 4. SOLUTIONS :

Here are several solutions we can employ to mitigate health issues.

Limit Screen Time:

Nowdays there are many built-in device features or third-party apps which can be
helpful to set screen time limits for yourself or your family members.

Plan Offline Activities:

Schedule activities or events with your family and friends that don’t involve screens,
like going for walks, attending workshops, or joining clubs.

Setting Boundaries:

Establish specific times for device use and non-use. Create device- free zones in
certain areas of your home (like the bedroom) or during certain activities (like meals).

Digital Detox: Take periodic breaks from technology. Consider dedicating certain
days or weekends as "tech-free" to engage in other activities or hobbies.

Among the solutions previously mentioned, our study focused on exploring the efficacy and
impact of digital detox .

 Digital detox refers to a conscious break from technology, allowing individuals to

disconnect from screens and reconnect with the world around them
 This practice aims to ease the negative effects of constant screen time, such as eye
strain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and a sense of being constantly plugged in.
 32.5% people have preferred doing digital detox and benefited from it.
 5. CONCLUSION:

 Physical Health Issues: Many people reported problems like eye strain,
headaches, and neck/back pain due to using electronic devices.

 Mental Health Impact: Using electronic devices also affected mental health,
causing increased stress, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and reduced social
interactions.

 Sleep Problems: A significant number of participants faced sleep

disturbances, possibly linked to spending too much time on screens and
exposure to blue light

 This study helps us understand connections between using devices and

certain health issues. But to really understand why these connections exist
and if using devices directly causes these problems, we need to do more
research. That means looking into other things that might also play a role and
figuring out exactly how using devices affects our health.

6. REFERENCES:

 https://oosga.com/social-media/ind/
 https://www.statista.com/statistics/467163/forecast-of-smartphone-users-in-india/
 Priyesh Marskole and group (2021) A study on assessment of effects of electronic
gadgets on mental and physical health among medical students in Central India
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8485597/