Examining the Relationship between Sleep Quality and Academic Performance with the Degree of Dependence on Smartphone during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Background and Objective: After the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Iran, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it was decided for classes to be held virtually. Even though this decision reduced the spread of the virus, the students were exposed to smartphone addiction, which is believed to have high comorbidity with psychological problems. The current study aims to examine the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance with the degree of dependence on smartphone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The current research was a cross-sectional study with 254 adolescent students participating in virtual classes. This study was conducted in 2020-2021. The participants filled out the following questionnaires online: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), smartphone addiction scale (SAS), and Educational Performance Test (EPT). The data were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics [frequency, pearson correlation, mean, standard deviation (SD)], and inferential statistics (simultaneous regression) (P 0.05). Results: There was a significant correlation between components of addiction to the Internet and the study’s variables. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between Internet addiction and academic performance (Pearson correlation = -0.57, P = 0.01) and between Internet addiction and sleep quality (Pearson correlation = 0.47, P = 0.01). Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that after the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual education, Internet addiction could be a risk factor for decreasing sleep quality and academic performance in students.