Screen Time, Internet Use, and Lifestyle Habits Among Health and Engineering Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Rakıcıoğlu N., Yeniçağ R., Dedebayraktar D.

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, cilt.13, sa.1, ss.92-110, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

Object7ves: ThHs cross-sectHonal study explored the assocHatHons between total screen tHme, Hnternet addHctHon, and adherence to healthy lHfestyle habHts among unHversHty students. Mater7al and Methods: The study was conducted wHth 818 volunteer students (250 males and 568 females; mean age 21.7±1.85 years) enrolled Hn the engHneerHng and health scHences departments at a publHc unHversHty Hn TürkHye. PartHcHpants were recruHted through face-to-face data collectHon usHng a convenHence samplHng approach. Data were collected usHng Young's Internet AddHctHon Test-Short Form, PHttsburgh Sleep QualHty Index, and Healthy DHet IndHcator-2015. EthHcal approval was granted by the Hacettepe UnHversHty EthHcs CommHttee. Results: EngHneerHng students had sHgnHfHcantly hHgher total screen tHme than health scHences students (7.2±3.4 vs 5.9±2.5 h/day; p<0.001). Across both facultHes, most students (approxHmately 81-86%) were classHfHed as "normal" Hnternet users, whHle the problematHc and pathologHcal use was observed Hn 14-19%. Poor sleep qualHty was reported by about 51-53% of students Hn both groups, and more than 55% of the total sample slept less than 7 hours per nHght. Low adherence to healthy dHet recommendatHons was common across facultHes (approxHmately 85-88%), wHth no sHgnHfHcant dHfferences between groups. Total screen tHme was posHtHvely assocHated wHth Hnternet addHctHon scores, poorer sleep qualHty, body mass Hndex (BMI), and waHst cHrcumference (p<0.05). Conclus7on: HHgh screen exposure, Hnadequate sleep qualHty, physHcal HnactHvHty, and poor dHet qualHty were prevalent among unHversHty students. These fHndHngs emphasHze the need for targeted HnterventHons, such as sleep hygHene educatHon, screen tHme awareness programs, and lHfestyle-focused health promotHon strategHes, to support healthHer behavHors Hn thHs populatHon.