Smartphone addiction and depression in Thai medical students: Educator’s role in supporting mental health and well-being

Background: Stress is a prevalent issue among medical students, and smartphones are one of the outlets for stress relief, social connection, and entertainment. However, like any addiction, excessive usage can disrupt their daily routines, hinder effective time management, and add stress as they struggle to keep up, factors that may contribute to depression. These challenges pose risks to students’ well-being and clinical competency. Understanding these associations provides opportunities for educators to support students effectively. Methods:  A cross-sectional study was conducted with 355 Thai medical students via an online survey using Thai versions of validated tools: SAS-SV (Smartphone Addiction Scale) and PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) to measure smartphone addiction and depression, respectively. Demographic factors were analyzed to identify predictors and protective factors. Results:  Participants had a mean age of 20 years, with 58.9% identifying as female. Smartphone addiction prevalence was 24.2%, while depression affected 34.6%. 71.0% experienced sleep problems, and 30.4% had low self-esteem. On average, participants spent 7.87 hours daily on the internet, including 4.70 hours on social media. A significant positive correlation was observed between smartphone addiction and depression (r = 0.477, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis revealed sleep problems (p < 0.001), family problems (p = 0.020), and low self-esteem (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher depression scores. For higher smartphone addiction scores, borderline significant factors included sleep problems (p = 0.052) and low self-esteem (p = 0.055). Life satisfaction was linked to both lower depression (P < 0.001) and smartphone addiction (P = 0.010). Conclusion and Discussion: The correlation between smartphone addiction and depression among medical students was significant, with contributing factors for higher scores of both sleep problems and low self-esteem. Conversely, life satisfaction emerged as a protective factor, being associated with lower scores. Family problems only significantly affected depression. Interventions targeting these factors could reduce these interconnected issues.