Problematic Smartphone UseDTU-HGSNCT07694960
Digital Technology Use, Digit Ratio, and Handgrip Strength in University Students
An observational study of Problematic Smartphone Use and Internet Addiction, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This observational cross-sectional study examined associations among second-to-fourth digit ratio, handgrip strength, problematic smartphone-use symptoms, problematic Internet-use symptoms, and self-reported smartphone usage time in university students from different regional backgrounds. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 26 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Problematic Smartphone Use, Internet Addiction, Healthy Volunteers
- How many people
- 173 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2022to 30 May 2023
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 17 to 26 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Study population: University students aged 17-26 years from Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian regional backgrounds studying at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University.
Who may be able to join
- University students aged 17-26 years.
- Classifiable sex and regional-background information.
- Ability to understand the study procedures.
- Written informed consent provided.
- For participants younger than the legal age of majority, additional parent or legal guardian consent obtained according to institutional requirements.
Who cannot join
- Previous finger operation.
- Finger prosthesis.
- Median, radial, or ulnar nerve deformity.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Developmental or mental disorder preventing participation or valid assessment.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Problematic Smartphone and Internet-Use Symptoms, Handgrip Strength, and Digit Ratio in University Students From Different Regional Backgrounds
This observational cross-sectional study examined associations among second-to-fourth digit ratio, handgrip strength, problematic smartphone-use symptoms, problematic Internet-use symptoms, and self-reported smartphone usage time in university students from different regional backgrounds. The analytic sample included 173 students aged 17-26 years from Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian regional backgrounds. Participants completed validated self-report scales for smartphone-use and Internet-use symptoms, and underwent anthropometric, hand morphology, and handgrip strength measurements. The study did not involve randomization, treatment assignment, intervention, or follow-up.
Read the detailed description
This exploratory observational cross-sectional study evaluated whether bilateral second-to-fourth digit ratio and handgrip strength were associated with smartphone-addiction symptom scores, Internet-addiction symptom scores, and self-reported smartphone usage time among university students from different regional backgrounds. The final analytic sample consisted of 173 participants aged 17-26 years, including Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian students. Regional-background comparisons and sex-specific associations were analyzed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation analyses, and sensitivity analyses adjusted for age and body mass index. The study was observational only and did not include any intervention, random allocation, treatment exposure, clinical procedure, or prospective follow-up.
- Keywords
- Healthy Volunteers, Internet Addiction, Problematic Internet Use
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish university students | University students from Turkish regional background included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. | |
| Middle Asian university students | University students from Middle Asian regional backgrounds included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. | |
| African university students | University students from African regional backgrounds included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. | |
| Asian university students | University students from Asian regional backgrounds included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Internet-addiction symptom score
Internet-addiction symptoms assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Scale-Short Form. Higher scores indicate greater Internet-use symptom severity.
Measured: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Smartphone-addiction symptom score
Smartphone-addiction symptoms assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Higher scores indicate greater smartphone-use symptom severity.
Measured: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Secondary outcomes (3)
Second-to-fourth digit ratio
Right and left second-to-fourth digit ratios calculated from index and ring finger lengths measured using a digital caliper.
Measured: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Handgrip strength
Right and left handgrip strength measured using an electronic handgrip dynamometer.
Measured: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Self-reported smartphone usage time
Daily smartphone usage time reported by participants in hours per day.
Measured: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2022
- Primary completion30 May 2023
- Study completion30 May 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Problematic Smartphone UseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Inonu UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 173 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür EKEN, Inonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07694960
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BYEU-HSI-2022-164
- Acronym
- DTU-HGS
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be publicly shared because the dataset contains participant-level behavioral and anthropometric information. Data may be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and subject to ethical and institutional approval.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Problematic Smartphone and Internet-Use Symptoms, Handgrip Strength, and Digit Ratio in University Students From Different Regional Backgrounds
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07694960
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DTU-HGS / BYEU-HSI-2022-164
- Keywords
- Healthy Volunteers, Internet Addiction, Problematic Internet Use
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 173 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 May 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This observational cross-sectional study examined associations among second-to-fourth digit ratio, handgrip strength, problematic smartphone-use symptoms, problematic Internet-use symptoms, and self-reported smartphone usage time in university students from different regional backgrounds. The analytic sample included 173 students aged 17-26 years from Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian regional backgrounds. Participants completed validated self-report scales for smartphone-use and Internet-use symptoms, and underwent anthropometric, hand morphology, and handgrip strength measurements. The study did not involve randomization, treatment assignment, intervention, or follow-up.
Detailed description
This exploratory observational cross-sectional study evaluated whether bilateral second-to-fourth digit ratio and handgrip strength were associated with smartphone-addiction symptom scores, Internet-addiction symptom scores, and self-reported smartphone usage time among university students from different regional backgrounds. The final analytic sample consisted of 173 participants aged 17-26 years, including Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian students. Regional-background comparisons and sex-specific associations were analyzed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation analyses, and sensitivity analyses adjusted for age and body mass index. The study was observational only and did not include any intervention, random allocation, treatment exposure, clinical procedure, or prospective follow-up.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish university students | – | –University students from Turkish regional background included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. |
| Middle Asian university students | – | –University students from Middle Asian regional backgrounds included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. |
| African university students | – | –University students from African regional backgrounds included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. |
| Asian university students | – | –University students from Asian regional backgrounds included in the observational cross-sectional analysis. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 26 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
- Study population
- University students aged 17-26 years from Turkish, Middle Asian, African, and Asian regional backgrounds studying at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- University students aged 17-26 years.
- Classifiable sex and regional-background information.
- Ability to understand the study procedures.
- Written informed consent provided.
- For participants younger than the legal age of majority, additional parent or legal guardian consent obtained according to institutional requirements.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Previous finger operation.
- Finger prosthesis.
- Median, radial, or ulnar nerve deformity.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Developmental or mental disorder preventing participation or valid assessment.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Internet-addiction symptom score
Time frame: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Internet-addiction symptoms assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Scale-Short Form. Higher scores indicate greater Internet-use symptom severity.
Smartphone-addiction symptom score
Time frame: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Smartphone-addiction symptoms assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Higher scores indicate greater smartphone-use symptom severity.
3 secondary outcomes
Second-to-fourth digit ratio
Time frame: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Handgrip strength
Time frame: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Self-reported smartphone usage time
Time frame: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be publicly shared because the dataset contains participant-level behavioral and anthropometric information. Data may be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and subject to ethical and institutional approval.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Problematic Smartphone Use and Internet Addiction, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Internet-addiction symptom score (time frame: At baseline / single cross-sectional assessment). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jul 2026.