Mobile Touch Screen Device Use and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Adolescents

Abstract

This thesis examined smartphone and tablet use in adolescents and related musculoskeletal symptoms and visual outcomes, using a systematic review, qualitative study and longitudinal survey. Smartphone use was ubiquitous and integrated with adolescents’ lives. Using a smartphone, longer bout length, certain types of activities and multitasking increased the risk of musculoskeletal discomfort, but were not associated with visual discomfort or myopia. These findings can guide strategies to support wise use of these devices by adolescents.