Examining the Relationship between Sleep Quality and Academic Performance with the Degree of Dependence on Smartphone during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Elham Alinezhad; Samira Moradi; Zeynab Nemati; Fatemeh Mohammadi Golestani; Fatemeh Rajabi; Mansoor Alimehdi

doi:10.18502/jss.v7i(1-2).13211

Elham Alinezhad Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Samira Moradi Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Zeynab Nemati Department of Psychology, School of Literature, Social and Human Sciences, Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Mohammadi Golestani Department of Psychology, Hakim Toos Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
Fatemeh Rajabi Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Mansoor Alimehdi Department of Psychology, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jss.v7i(1-2).13211

Keywords: : Internet addiction disorder; Sleep quality; Academic performance

Abstract

Background and Objective: After the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Iran, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it was decided for classes to be held virtually. Even though this decision reduced the spread of the virus, the students were exposed to smartphone addiction, which is believed to have high comorbidity with psychological problems. The current study aims to examine the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance with the degree of dependence on smartphone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: The current research was a cross-sectional study with 254 adolescent students participating in virtual classes. This study was conducted in 2020-2021. The participants filled out the following questionnaires online: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), smartphone addiction scale (SAS), and Educational Performance Test (EPT). The data were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics [frequency, pearson correlation, mean, standard deviation (SD)], and inferential statistics (simultaneous regression) (P < 0.05).

Results: There was a significant correlation between components of addiction to the Internet and the study’s variables. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between Internet addiction and academic performance (Pearson correlation = -0.57, P = 0.01) and between Internet addiction and sleep quality (Pearson correlation = 0.47, P = 0.01).

Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that after the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual education, Internet addiction could be a risk factor for decreasing sleep quality and academic performance in students.