Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its association with anxiety and depression among pregnant women in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study
5 affiliations
- 1Deaprtment of Medicine, Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
- 2Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
- 3Incharge of Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan
- 4Department of Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
- 5Department of Medicine, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
Abstract
Background: Excessive smartphone use has emerged as a growing public health concern and has been associated with anxiety, depression, and adverse behavioral outcomes. Although smartphone addiction (SA) has been widely studied in adolescents and young adults, limited evidence exists regarding its prevalence and psychological correlates among pregnant women, particularly in Pakistan, where perinatal anxiety and depression are highly prevalent.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of smartphone addiction risk among pregnant women and examine its association with anxiety, depression, and selected socio-demographic and gestational factors.
Design: Observational analytical cross-sectional study.
Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from May to July 2025. A total of 350 pregnant smartphone users aged ≥18 years were recruited using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: High-risk smartphone addiction was identified in 3.5% (n = 12) of participants, while 96.5% were categorized as low risk. Anxiety and depression were significantly correlated with smartphone addiction. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the overall model was statistically significant (R2 = 0.088, F (7,342) = 4.691, p < 0.001). Anxiety (β = 0.237, p < 0.001) and level of education (β = 0.141, p = 0.010) were significant independent predictors of smartphone addiction.
Conclusion: Although high-risk smartphone addiction was uncommon, higher smartphone addiction scores were associated with anxiety and depression. Anxiety emerged as the strongest independent predictor of smartphone addiction after adjustment for socio-demographic and obstetric factors. Integrating digital behavior screening with mental health assessment during antenatal care may help identify vulnerable women and support preventive interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{akram2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its association with anxiety and depression among pregnant women in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study}},
author = {Laiba Akram and Muhammad Saad Khan and Erum Siddiqui and Nighat Shah and Marium Osama and Harshika Khaim Chandani and Umm e Abeeha Naqvi and Aminath Waafira},
journal = {Women's Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/17455057261491538},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261491538},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its association with anxiety and depression among pregnant women in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study
AU - Laiba Akram
AU - Muhammad Saad Khan
AU - Erum Siddiqui
AU - Nighat Shah
AU - Marium Osama
AU - Harshika Khaim Chandani
AU - Umm e Abeeha Naqvi
AU - Aminath Waafira
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - Women's Health
DO - 10.1177/17455057261491538
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261491538
AB - Background: Excessive smartphone use has emerged as a growing public health concern and has been associated with anxiety, depression, and adverse behavioral outcomes. Although smartphone addiction (SA) has been widely studied in adolescents and young adults, limited evidence exists regarding its prevalence and psychological correlates among pregnant women, particularly in Pakistan, where perinatal anxiety and depression are highly prevalent. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of smartphone addiction risk among pregnant women and examine its association with anxiety, depression, and selected socio-demographic and gestational factors. Design: Observational analytical cross-sectional study. Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from May to July 2025. A total of 350 pregnant smartphone users aged ≥18 years were recruited using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: High-risk smartphone addiction was identified in 3.5% (n = 12) of participants, while 96.5% were categorized as low risk. Anxiety and depression were significantly correlated with smartphone addiction. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the overall model was statistically significant (R2 = 0.088, F (7,342) = 4.691, p < 0.001). Anxiety (β = 0.237, p < 0.001) and level of education (β = 0.141, p = 0.010) were significant independent predictors of smartphone addiction. Conclusion: Although high-risk smartphone addiction was uncommon, higher smartphone addiction scores were associated with anxiety and depression. Anxiety emerged as the strongest independent predictor of smartphone addiction after adjustment for socio-demographic and obstetric factors. Integrating digital behavior screening with mental health assessment during antenatal care may help identify vulnerable women and support preventive interventions.
SN - 1745-5057
SN - 1745-5065
ER -