The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P)

Vol-1, Issue (11): 416-420
www.theexplorerpak.org

MOBILE PHONES ADDICTION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: EVIDENCE FROM TWIN

CITIES OF PAKISTAN
Muhammad Shahzad1, Muhammad Nadir Shahzad2, Touqeer Ahmed3, Shahid Hussain4, Farhan Riaz4
1
University of Sargodha, 2Quaid.i.Azam University Islamabad, 3Area Manager, Innovative development
strategies Pvt. Ltd, 4PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Muhammad Shahzad
University of Sargodha
lashari003@gmail.com
Abstract: Wireless communication is fast growing technology as it guarantees to access any individual in remote
corner of the world. The usage of mobile phones has the potential to effect positively as well negatively on lives of
people in the world. The Current study presents empirical investigation of the usage of mobile phones among
university students in twin cities of Pakistan. Quantitative research design was employed and simple random
sampling technique was used to extract the study sample from the whole population. A self-structured
questionnaire was used as a tool for the data collection and a sample of 260 respondents from two universities of
twin cities was extracted and then analyzed through (SPSS) statistical package for social sciences and presented in
tabular form with description and interpretation. The study was hypothesis based and chi square was applied to
test the hypothesis. The results of the current study revealed that addiction of mobile phones was negatively
affecting the relationship of respondents with their families because they dont tolerate any kind of interruption
from their parents while using mobile phones. It was also concluded that mobile phones were intensively used by
the respondents which kills their precious time and loss of their study. The present study suggested that there
should be proper mechanism of guidance by the parents and teachers for the usage of cell phones.

Key Words: Mobile phones, Addiction, University students, Parents

INTRODUCTION
Wireless communication technology has become
an important and integral part of our society. The
benefits of mobile phones are undeniable
because of the access of any individual in remote
corner of the world within no time. The
advantages of cellular phones are patent and
several researchers have highlighted the benefits
of mobile phones because these are a major
source to be in touch with anyone and support
the relationship with family and other people in
the world (Power and Horstmanshof 2004).
Mobile phones guarantees easy contact with
anyone residing anywhere (Srivastava 2005)
feeling of security in emergency situation (Taylor
and Harper 2001) and parents who remains busy
and have not enough time to see their Childs can
communicate easily (Frissen 2000; Matthews
2004).
Mobile phones have positive as well as negative
impacts on youth. The researchers has identified

the negative impacts of mobile phones due to

excessive usage and addicted behavior.
a study in Australia on usage of mobile phones
and concluded that students addiction rate of
mobile phones was recorded between 1.5 to 5
hours on daily basis and the expenditures of
usage was calculated approximately 145 dollars
which is costly for those students who have not
enough income (James and Drennan 2005).
There is found a relationship between criminal
activities and mobile phone use. It was concluded
from the study that those students have high rate
of criminality like quarrelling, drinking, drugs
addiction and robbery (Ling 2005). Srivastava
(2005) resulted from his study that there is found
a negative relationship between mobile usage of
students and their studies. Students use mobiles
during their classes and they could not
concentrate well on their lectures which badly
effects their study and ultimately leads towards
low academic performance.

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A conducted research in USA among college

students and highlighted that most of the
students bring mobile phones while admitting in
college. They results of their study revealed that
students use their cell phones five times a day to
contact their peer groups, classmates, teachers,
girlfriends, boyfriends, blood relatives and
neighbors (Aoki and Downes 2003). The cellular
phone usage behavior and policies of educational
institutions. Majority of the educational
institutions hindered to use cell phone prior to
entering in their class rooms but a student bring
their phones with them and claims that they only
use their phones for clock. It was extracted from
the study that commonly students use phones to
send emails to one another during their classes
(Ito 2006).
Several studies has been conducted on harmful
effect of mobile phone usage. Intensive use of
mobile phones was observed on prohibited
places where the usage can be a fatal like petrol
pumps, airplanes, CNG stations and hospitals. in
an article that there is a dire need to control this
phenomena. The parents and teachers of the
students should spread awareness about the

harmful use of the mobile phones as the

intensive usage causes hazardous for public
health (Niaz 2008).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In order to conduct the present study
quantitative research design was used to get
information from the respondents. The research
was restricted to twin cities (Islamabad &
Rawalpindi) and further two universities were
selected from each city. Quaid-e-Azam University
from Islamabad and Pir Meher Ali Shah Arid
Agriculture University Rawalpindi were selected
on convenient basis. The researcher collected
data from both the universities randomly using
well-structured questionnaire. A sample of 260
respondents was extracted from both the
universities and then analyzed statistically using
chi square in SPSS. The data was further
tabulated and interpreted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Mobile phones addiction behavior of students is
measured in the study. Mobile phone usage and
time consumption are parallel with each other.
For the students mobile phones are just like a
time killing machine. The results are below as

Average time respondents use mobile phone for calls

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
less than 20-40 min 41-60 min more
20 min
than 1
hour

more
than 2
hour

Frequency

more
than 3
hour

more
than 4
hour

more
than 5
hour

unlimited

Total

Percent

Figure. 1: Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Average Time Spent on Making Calls on
Mobile Phones.

The above figure illustrates the data regarding

average time respondents use mobile phones for
calls. The data highlights that majority of the
respondents 28.1 % use mobile for calls more
than 1 hour, 21.2 % respondents use mobile for
calls up to 20-40 minutes, 13.5 % respondents
use mobile for calls between 41-60 minutes, 11.9
% respondents use mobile for calls more than 2

hours, 8.1 % respondents use mobile for calls

more than 3 hours, 7.3 % respondents use mobile
for calls more than 5 hours, 5.8 % respondents
use mobile for calls less than 20 minutes, 3.8 %
respondents use mobile for calls more than 4
hours, and a lowest proportion of the
respondents 0.4 % use mobile for unlimited
time.

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Average calls respondent make in a day

300
260

250
200
171

150
100

100
65.8

50

48
18.5

21
8.1

None

5-Jan

10-Jun
Frequency

12
4.6
15-Nov

6
2.3
16-20

2
0.8
More than 20

Total

Percent

Figure. 2: Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Average Calls Made in a Day.

The above figure is shows data consisting the

average calls made on daily basis and the results
showed that 65.8 % respondents which is the
highest proportion made up to 1-5 calls in a day,
18.5 % respondents made 6-10 calls in a day. 8.1
% respondents did not call in a day, 4.6 %
respondents made 11-15 calls in a day, 2.3 %

respondents made 16-20 calls in a day, and 0.8 %

respondents made more than 20 calls in a day.
Hypothesis Testing

H0: There is no association between who made

the decision to buy cell phones and who bears
mobile expenditures.
HA: There is association between who made the
decision to buy cell phones and who bears mobile
expenditures.

Table .1: The Cross Tabulation between Decision to Buy Cell Phone and Cell Phone Expenditure.

who made the decision to buy a

cell phone for respondents

father

who bears respondent's mobile expenditures

mother brother
sister
friend
relative
Fianc

Lover

yourself

Total

Father

58

13

13

96

Mother

12

15

39

Brother

22

Sister

Friend

10

22

relative
Fiance

1
1

0
0

0
1

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
4

0
0

1
0

2
6

Lover

14

yourself

17

21

51

108

31

28

20

53

260

Total

Table 1 illustrates the cross tabulated results of

mobile phones buying decision and mobile
phones expenditures. The calculated p value from
chi square is less than 5% which is .000 and

shows a strong relationship between both the

variables. On the basis of calculated p value we
reject the null hypothesis and accepts the
alternate
hypothesis.

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CONCLUSION
Mobile phone has become the need of the day
because it has connected the world. Wireless
communication has become an integral part of
our society. Our new generation is totally
dependent of this technology. Now a days
cellular company are busy in making cheap
phones. The ultimate motive behind is that low
income people should access this technology. The
present study was conducted to observe the
usage of mobile phones by the university
students and it was concluded that
approximately every student possess cell phone
to make contact with their friends, parents,
girlfriends. Boyfriends and neighbors etc. these
are the positive side of the picture but this
technology has negative and harmful effects on
the lives of the students.
They spend their most of time using mobile
phones which disturb their study routine and
ultimately leads towards bad academic
performance. Majority of the students dont like
the interruption of their parents when they are
busy in mobile. But another side of coin is that
parents are not checking their mobile. They have
so many other interests and activities and they
dont know that how their children use mobile
phones. Students think that mobile phone helps
to pursuing romantic relationship. Without
mobile phone they feel incomplete and
uncomfortable. Furthermore, students viewed
the mobile phone as an impressive and liberating
personal tool that allowed them to have a better
social position in life. It is suggested from the
research that there should be a proper
mechanism of guidance from parents and
teachers of mobile phones usage.
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419

Taylor, A.S. and R. Harper

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Publication Date: Dec-1-2015
2015The Explorer Islamabad Journal of Social Sciences-Pakistan

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