Effects of excessive use of mobile phone technology in India on human health during COVID-19 lockdown.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The global health crisis in the form of COVID-19 has forced people to shift their routine activities into a remote environment with the help of technology. The outbreak of the COVID-19 has caused several organizations to be shut down and forced them to initiate work from home employing technology. Now more than ever, it's important for people and institutions to understand the impact of excessive use of mobile phone technology and electronic gadgets on human health, cognition, and behavior. It is important to understand their perspective and how individuals are coping with this challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation is an effort to answer the research question: whether dependency on technology during lockdown has more effects on human health in comparison to normal times. METHODS: The study included participants from India (n = 122). A questionnaire was framed and the mode of conducting the survey chosen was online to maintain social distancing during the time of the Pandemic. The gathered data was statistically analysed employing RStudio and multiple regression techniques. RESULTS: The statistical analysis confirms that lockdown scenarios have led to an increase in the usage of mobile phone technology which has been confirmed by around 90% of participants. Moreover, 95% of the participants perceive an increased risk of developing certain health problems due to excessive usage of mobile phones and technology. It has been evaluated that participants under the age group 15-30 years are highly affected (45.9%) during lockdown due to excessive dependence on technology. And, amongst different professions, participants involved in online teaching-learning are the most affected (42.6%). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that dependency on technology during lockdown has more health effects as compared to normal times. So, it is suggested that as more waves of pandemics are being predicted, strategies should be planned to decrease the psychological and physiological effects of the overuse of technology during lockdown due to pandemics. As the lockdown situation unfolds, people and organization functioning styles should be rolled back to the limited dependency on technology.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In an online questionnaire survey of 122 participants in India, about 90% reported increased mobile phone technology use during lockdown and 95% perceived an increased risk of developing certain health problems due to excessive use. The authors conclude that dependency on technology during lockdown had more health effects compared with normal times, with higher reported impact among ages 15–30 and among those involved in online teaching-learning.

Outcomes measured

• Perceived increased risk of developing certain health problems due to excessive mobile phone/technology use
• Self-reported increase in mobile phone technology usage during lockdown
• Perceived health effects of technology dependency during lockdown vs normal times
• Age group differences in being affected (15–30 years)
• Profession differences in being affected (online teaching-learning)

Limitations

• Cross-sectional questionnaire survey; cannot establish causality
• Outcomes are based on participant perceptions/self-report rather than objective health measures
• Exposure not quantified (no frequency, SAR, or measured EMF levels reported)
• Online survey may introduce selection bias

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Participants from India during COVID-19 lockdown",
    "sample_size": 122,
    "outcomes": [
        "Perceived increased risk of developing certain health problems due to excessive mobile phone/technology use",
        "Self-reported increase in mobile phone technology usage during lockdown",
        "Perceived health effects of technology dependency during lockdown vs normal times",
        "Age group differences in being affected (15–30 years)",
        "Profession differences in being affected (online teaching-learning)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In an online questionnaire survey of 122 participants in India, about 90% reported increased mobile phone technology use during lockdown and 95% perceived an increased risk of developing certain health problems due to excessive use. The authors conclude that dependency on technology during lockdown had more health effects compared with normal times, with higher reported impact among ages 15–30 and among those involved in online teaching-learning.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional questionnaire survey; cannot establish causality",
        "Outcomes are based on participant perceptions/self-report rather than objective health measures",
        "Exposure not quantified (no frequency, SAR, or measured EMF levels reported)",
        "Online survey may introduce selection bias"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "COVID-19 lockdown",
        "India",
        "mobile phone technology",
        "excessive use",
        "technology dependency",
        "questionnaire",
        "perceived health risk",
        "work from home",
        "online teaching-learning",
        "multiple regression"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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