Digital Detox and Physical Activity: Enhancing Sleep Quality in University Student

Abstract

Excessive smartphone use among university students, driven by activities such as social media engagement and online content consumption, has raised concerns about its impact on sleep quality. This study examines how reducing smartphone use and increasing physical activity affect sleep quality and daytime fatigue in this population. A single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental approach was utilized, involving a convenience sample of university students (mean age: 19.83±1.39 years, BMI: 22.56±3.29). The data for this study were obtained through the administration of the Personal Information Form, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The intervention reduced daily smartphone use by 30 minutes and increased physical activity by five minutes over one week. Following the intervention, notable improvements were observed in all subdimensions of the PSQI (p < 0.001), accompanied by a statistically significant reduction in ESS scores (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced sleep quality and reduced daytime drowsiness. These findings suggest that smartphone addiction negatively affects sleep, while digital detox and physical activity interventions enhance sleep quality. From a human-computer interaction standpoint, this research emphasizes the effectiveness of user-oriented digital solutions in promoting healthier smartphone habits and supporting student well-being. © MatDer.