Elsevier

Technology in Society

Volume 67, November 2021, 101762
Technology in Society

Effects of excessive use of mobile phone technology in India on human health during COVID-19 lockdown

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101762Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Exposure to electromagnetic radiations has negative effect on biological system.

  • During COVID′19 Pandemic, people are highly dependent on mobile phones.

  • Elongated usage of mobile phone effects overall well-being.

  • Physiological effects such as Headache, Musculoskeletal issues have been recorded.

  • Psychological issues such as altered Cognitive Behaviour, Depression are observed.

Abstract

Objective

The global health crisis in the form of COVID-19 has forced people to shift their routine activities into a remote environment with the help of technology. The outbreak of the COVID-19 has caused several organizations to be shut down and forced them to initiate work from home employing technology. Now more than ever, it's important for people and institutions to understand the impact of excessive use of mobile phone technology and electronic gadgets on human health, cognition, and behavior. It is important to understand their perspective and how individuals are coping with this challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation is an effort to answer the research question: whether dependency on technology during lockdown has more effects on human health in comparison to normal times.

Methods

The study included participants from India (n = 122). A questionnaire was framed and the mode of conducting the survey chosen was online to maintain social distancing during the time of the Pandemic. The gathered data was statistically analysed employing RStudio and multiple regression techniques.

Results

The statistical analysis confirms that lockdown scenarios have led to an increase in the usage of mobile phone technology which has been confirmed by around 90% of participants. Moreover, 95% of the participants perceive an increased risk of developing certain health problems due to excessive usage of mobile phones and technology. It has been evaluated that participants under the age group 15–30 years are highly affected (45.9%) during lockdown due to excessive dependence on technology. And, amongst different professions, participants involved in online teaching-learning are the most affected (42.6%).

Conclusion

The findings indicate that dependency on technology during lockdown has more health effects as compared to normal times. So, it is suggested that as more waves of pandemics are being predicted, strategies should be planned to decrease the psychological and physiological effects of the overuse of technology during lockdown due to pandemics. As the lockdown situation unfolds, people and organization functioning styles should be rolled back to the limited dependency on technology.

Keywords

Mobile phone technology
Health effects
COVID19 pandemic
EMF radiation
Lockdown

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