Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its effects on subhealth and insomnia: a cross-sectional study among medical students

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess Chinese medical students’ smartphone addiction and its effects on subhealth and insomnia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 14, 2020 to November 14, 2020 by administering an online questionnaire to Wannan Medical College students. RESULTS: Of 2741 students who completed the survey, 1,447 (52.8%) had smartphone addiction. Medical specialty (p = 0.004), alcohol consumption (p = 0.001), smartphone use in bed (p = 0.000), depression (p = 0.000) and anxiety (p = 0.000) were strongly associated with smartphone addiction. The impacts of smartphone addiction on subhealth (p = 0.000) and insomnia (p = 0.000) were significant. CONCLUSION: This survey shows that the smartphone addiction detection rate among medical students was 52.8%. Students who did not like their medical specialty, consumed alcohol, used their smartphones in bed, and suffered from depression and anxiety had a higher smartphone addiction detection rate. The subhealth and insomnia of medical students are adversely associated with smartphone addiction. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-022-03956-6.