Smartphone usage time and related health conditions in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate smartphone usage time and related health conditions in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is a cross-sectional study of 237 older people (aged ≥60 years) Brazilians, carried out between June and August 2020. An online form was used to obtain the following variables: socio-economic profile, health status, and smartphone usage. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed using the SPSS program with the outcome of smartphone usage time. Results: Of the study individuals, 69.2% (n=164) were females, 48.5% (n=115) complained of cervical pain, 57.4% (n=136) had a cervical disability and remained 6.2 hours a day in the sitting position per week. Approximately 54.4% (n=129) reported increased smartphone usage in the past few months, reporting 4.2 hours of usage/day. Younger senior individuals ( p=0.038), who did not practice physical activities ( p=0.001), with good health assessment ( p=0.009) and who spent more extended periods in the sitting position ( p=0.011) spent more time using the device. Conclusion: Considering the smartphone usage during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with more extended periods in the sitting position and a sedentary lifestyle, it is worth mentioning its adverse effects on the physical and mental health of older people.