Prevalence and factors associated with the problematic use of the smartphone in Honduran university students

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has increased exponentially, leading to rapid changes in society. It has transformed the way we communicate, socialize, seek information, and even entertain ourselves. However, its uncontrolled use, known as problematic smartphone use (PSU), has been linked to numerous negative consequences. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of PSU in a sample of Honduran university students and to examine its possible sociodemographic and personality correlates. The sample consists of 791 students from Francisco Morazán National Pedagogical University in Honduras (77.2% women) with a mean age of 26.29 years. A descriptive, correlational, and comparative analysis was conducted using SPSS 28.0. The results indicate a PSU prevalence of 19.97% and show that both the Big Five personality traits and self-esteem are associated with this behavior. In conclusion, this study is the first to establish the prevalence of PSU among Honduran university students These findings may have significant implications for the development of policies aimed at reducing excessive technology use in this at-risk group