Mobile phone dependence syndrome and loneliness among university students

Objective To investigate the relationship between mobile phone dependence syndrome(MPDS)and loneliness among university students.Methods With convenience sampling,1 016 students in Fudan University were selected and asked to complete a questionnaire survey about personal characteristics,mobile phone dependence and loneliness status.Accumulation logistic regression was used in data analysis.Results Among the participants providing eligible information in the survey,the prevalence rate of MPDS was 22.4%(205/915).Significantly higher MPDS prevalence was observed among the students suffering a setback recently(32.4%,χ²=4.135;P=0.042)and those reporting not good health status(63.6%,χ²=11.030;P=0.012).Of all the participants,92.8%(849/915)reported various degrees of sense of loneliness and 35.0%(320/915)reported high degree loneliness.The results of logistic regression revealed that the students with loneliness had a significantly higher risk of MPDS(odds ratio=1.60,95%confidence interval:1.19-2.14).Conclusion The prevalence of MPDS is high among university students and MPDS may increase the risk of loneliness among the students.