Volume VI Special Issue III March 2026

Name of Author : Riat Simran Inderjeet, Dr. Dnyaneshwar. P. Pawar

Title of the paper : Smartphone Addiction and Perceived Stress among Undergraduate Students

Abstract: The growing reliance on smartphones in todays college students has seen concerns raised over the psychological effects it has, especially as they pertain to stress. Aim of the study is to find out correlation between smartphone addiction and perceived stress among undergraduate students of various professional colleges based in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. A total of 60 students between the age of 18 and 24 were selected using stratified purposive sampling and from disciplines including engineering, pharmacy, management among other disciplines through nursing. Participants were asked to complete two standardized tool namely the Smartphone Addiction Scale to Short Version SAS to SV and the Perceived Stress Scale PSS 10. Statistical analysis showed that there was a strong positive correlation between smartphone addiction and perceived stress r = 0.98, p < .001, which may indicate that there is a significant association between the intensity of mobile use and the increased levels of stress. No statistically significant gender difference found on stress t= 1.60, p = .127. However, students with lower academic performance had higher scores of addictions with the result approaching statistical significance t = 2.08, p <0.05. These findings suggest the existence of a possible stress-addiction loop, in which students might end up using smartphones as a coping tool, unintentionally reinforcing stressful outcomes. The study calls for a need for integrated intervention in higher education institutions where a blend of digital literacy, emotional resilience training and academic support is needed especially in professional colleges where academic demands are often intense.

Keywords : Smartphone addiction, perceived stress, undergraduate students, academic performance

DOI :

Page Number : 132-137