The Relationship between Smartphone Addiction and Anxiety Levels in Adolescents at SMK Kesehatan Matorkis Padangsidimpuan

Abstract

Introduction: Smartphone addiction is an increasingly common concern among adolescents and has been associated with elevated anxiety symptoms; however, evidence from vocational health-school populations in Indonesia remains limited. This study examined the relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety levels among adolescents at SMK Kesehatan Matorkis Padangsidimpuan.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted at SMK Kesehatan Matorkis Padangsidimpuan, North Sumatra, from January to March 2026. A purposive sample of 150 adolescents aged 14–19 years completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) short version and the anxiety subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation following a Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test. Participants provided informed consent (with parental consent for minors), and ethical approval was granted by the Health Research Ethics Committee of the affiliated university.

Results: Moderate smartphone addiction was found in 56.7% of respondents and high addiction in 25.3%; 50.8% experienced anxiety ranging from mild to extremely severe. A statistically significant, moderate positive correlation was found between smartphone addiction and anxiety levels (r = 0.524, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Smartphone addiction was moderately and positively associated with anxiety among adolescents at this vocational health school. Because the design was cross-sectional, causal or directional conclusions cannot be drawn; longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety before specific intervention strategies are recommended.

Keywords: Smartphone addiction; Anxiety; Adolescents; Mental Health