Screen addiction, the silent epidemic: Examining the effects of mobile phone use on undergraduate students’ academic performance - Insights from Valley View University (VVU), Oyibi Campus, Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to examine the effects of mobile phone use on the academic performance of undergraduate students at VVU, Oyibi Campus, Accra, Ghana. The study was underpinned by Uses and Gratifications Theory (U&GT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The study addresses four key questions on mobile phone usage among undergraduate students: (i) the extent of mobile phone addiction, (ii) the average time students spend using mobile phones, (iii) the reasons behind mobile phone usage, and (iv) the effects of mobile phone use on students' academic performance. The undergraduate students’ population was 2,613, and the sample size was 384. The study employed a descriptive survey approach. A well-structured questionnaire was the only instrument used for data collection. Cochran’s method was applied to determine the suitable sample size for the study. In this study, the researchers analysed the data using IBM SPSS, version 27 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The findings indicated that students spent 1 to 3 hours every day using their mobile phones. The findings revealed that mobile phone addiction among students adversely affects their academic performance. The study found again that students use their phones to visit various social media network sites for entertainment, leisure, sharing images, and communicating with their peers. The implication is that in the absence of adequate supervision and control measures, mobile phone usage may persist in detrimentally affecting students' educational achievements. The researchers recommended that the university's management prioritise mobile phone usage for educational purposes. In conclusion, the findings will contribute to the ongoing discussion about the impact of mobile technology on student performance.