Smartphone Addiction, Posture and Breathing Control in University Students

May 22, 2026 updated by: Emel Mete, Istanbul Medeniyet University

Effects of Smartphone Addiction on Posture and Breathing Control in University Students: The Role of Physical Activity and Demographic Factors

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of smartphone addiction on postural problems and breathing control in healthy university students.

Excessive smartphone use has been associated with forward head posture, thoracic postural changes, and musculoskeletal complaints. These postural alterations may negatively influence respiratory biomechanics and breathing control. However, the relationship between smartphone addiction, postural deterioration, and dysfunctional breathing symptoms has not been comprehensively investigated.

Participants will complete questionnaires assessing smartphone addiction and breathing control, and posture will be evaluated using the New York Posture Rating Chart. Binary logistic regression analysis will be performed to determine whether smartphone addiction independently predicts postural problems. Additionally, multiple linear regression analyses will be conducted to examine the association between smartphone addiction, posture, and breathing control.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This cross-sectional observational study will be conducted between April and September 2026 in healthy university students aged 18-35 years.

Following written informed consent, participants will complete a sociodemographic form including age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and daily smartphone usage duration.

Smartphone addiction levels will be evaluated using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SV). Breathing control and dysfunctional breathing symptoms will be assessed using the Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ). Postural assessment will be performed using the New York Posture Rating Chart (NYPRC).

Participants will additionally be categorized according to smartphone addiction status using validated cutoff values for the SAS-SV. Postural status will also be categorized according to NYPRC scores.

Binary logistic regression analysis will be performed to determine whether smartphone addiction is an independent predictor of postural problems. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) will be reported. Multiple linear regression analysis will additionally be used to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, posture scores, and breathing control scores while adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and smartphone usage duration.

The study aims to provide evidence regarding the musculoskeletal and respiratory consequences of excessive smartphone use in young adults.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

300

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), (537) 609-6265
        • Recruiting
        • Emel Mete
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Reyhan Kaygusuz, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Berivan Beril Kılıç, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy university students aged 18-35 years

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 35 years
  • Smartphone user
  • Ability to stand independently
  • Ability to perform activities of daily living independently
  • Ability to understand assessment instructions
  • Voluntary participation with signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • History of fracture

    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Pulmonary disease
    • Neurological or orthopedic disorders affecting posture or breathing
    • Inability to understand instructions

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Smartphone addiction group
Participants with smartphone addiction according to Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form cutoff values.
Other: Observational Assessment
Participants will complete questionnaires assessing smartphone addiction, physical activity level, and breathing control. Postural assessment will be performed using the New York Posture Rating Chart. The study will investigate the association between smartphone addiction, postural problems, and breathing control in university students.
Non-addicted group
Participants without smartphone addiction according to Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form cutoff values.
Other: Observational Assessment
Participants will complete questionnaires assessing smartphone addiction, physical activity level, and breathing control. Postural assessment will be performed using the New York Posture Rating Chart. The study will investigate the association between smartphone addiction, postural problems, and breathing control in university students.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Presence of postural problems
Time Frame: baseline
Posture will be evaluated using the New York Posture Rating Chart (NYPRC). Participants will be categorized according to posture status. Lower scores indicate poorer posture.
baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Smartphone addiction severity
Time Frame: Baseline
Smartphone addiction severity will be assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SV). Higher scores indicate greater smartphone addiction.
Baseline
Breathing control
Time Frame: baseline
Breathing control and dysfunctional breathing symptoms will be evaluated using the Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ). Higher scores indicate greater dysfunctional breathing symptoms.
baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Medeniyet University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: EMEL METE, Istanbul Medeniyet University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 5, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 22, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SMARTPOSTURE

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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