Smartphone dependence and associated factors among elementary school teachers in the Minas Gerais state public school system - Brazil

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.515722626018

• Palavras-chave: Smartphone Dependence, Teachers, Epidemiology, Mental Health.

• Keywords: Smartphone Dependence, Teachers, Epidemiology, Mental Health.

• Abstract:

  Smartphone addiction has become a public health problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with smartphone addiction among public school teachers in the state of Minas Gerais. This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, quantitative, observational study conducted as a web survey. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the magnitude of associations between sociodemographic variables, work-related variables, habits and behaviors, as well as clinical and health conditions. A total of 1,907 teachers responded. Most were women, aged 40 years, not in a stable relationship, with an income between 3 and 5 minimum wages. Factors such as age (OR = 3.13 p = 0.004), working night shifts (OR = 1.40 p = 0.012), high psychological demand (OR = 1.52 p = 0.002), inadequate nutrition (OR = 2.99 p = 0.000), anxiety (OR = 1.38 p = 0.028), depression (OR = 0.59 p = 0.005), and common mental disorders (OR = 2.57 p = 0.000) were associated with SD. A significant proportion of teachers have SD, and health strategies need to be implemented to track risk factors and prevent SD.