A sex-specific difference in smartphone addiction, physical activity level, and cognitive functions among university students

This study aimed to investigate the sex-specific differences in smartphone addiction, physical activity levels, and cognitive functions among university students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 256 university students aged 18–25. Participants completed questionnaires using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version to assess their level of smartphone addiction. The working memory and selective attention domains of cognitive function were evaluated, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to determine participants' self-reported physical activity levels. The results revealed significant sex differences, with male students exhibiting higher levels of smartphone addiction (male = 46.42 ± 9.37; female = 38.27 ± 7.63) and greater physical activity (male = 3752 ± 1876; female = 3447 ± 1748) than their female counterparts. Additionally, female students demonstrated superior performance on selective attention tasks, including reaction time (female = 463.00 ± 50.53; male = 457.34 ± 59.31) and accuracy (female = 92.26 ± 6.53; male = 89.60 ± 8.39) across varied conditions, whereas no significant sex differences were observed in working memory or overall reaction time. These findings suggest that sex-specific factors may influence differences between male and female participants in smartphone use, cognitive function, and physical activity.