Mobile Phone Usage Patterns and Impacts Among University Students: A Study at Bacha Khan University, Pakistan

Abstract

The study investigates the impact of mobile phone usage on university students' budget, social behavior, and academic performance, with a focus on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, Pakistan. Concerns raised by parents, guardians, and teachers regarding excessive spending and time devoted to mobile phones among students motivate this analysis. Additionally, the study examines mobile phone addiction behaviors among students. Data collected from 365 students through a questionnaire are analyzed using Varimax rotation matrix. The results reveal several noteworthy findings. Firstly, female students, as well as those who are engaged or divorced, enrolled in Master's programs, and whose fathers are semi-government employees, are found to spend a significant portion of their part-time job income or pocket money on mobile phones. Furthermore, the study indicates changes in students' communication patterns as a result of mobile phone usage. Students allocate less time to calling and sending texts to family and friends, while dedicating more time to contacting their partners and other individuals. The findings from the Varimax rotation matrix analysis highlight several key observations regarding students' mobile phone usage patterns and their associated impacts. Firstly, the study reveals that students predominantly use their mobile phones for entertainment purposes, with frequent utilization for making calls, sending text messages, accessing news, and connecting to social media platforms. Moreover, the study suggests that the use of mobile phones has led to reductions in students' communication and travel costs, potentially due to the convenience of staying connected without the need for physical meetings or extensive travel. Additionally, the availability of mobile phone internet services appears to have decreased students' expenditure on purchasing books, likely attributed to the accessibility of online resources and e-books. However, while mobile phone usage offers certain benefits in terms of cost savings and convenience, the study also identifies negative impacts on students' social behavior and academic performance. Despite the positive aspects, such as improved communication and access to information, the detrimental effects of excessive mobile phone usage on academic performance and social interactions are more pronounced. This suggests that the drawbacks, including distractions, reduced face-to-face interactions, and potential addiction tendencies, outweigh the benefits for many students.