Streaming Media
Publication Date
2026
Presentation Length
Poster/Gallery presentation
College
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Department
Occupational Therapy, School of
Student Level
Graduate
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Debra Gibbs
Presentation Type
Poster
Summary
Smartphone use among university students in the United States is steadily increasing. Longer duration of smartphone use has been associated with increased risk of smartphone addiction, reduced musculoskeletal strength, and engagement in meaningful activities. While prior research has examined these variables separately, limited evidence exists on the associations between smartphone use, hand grip and pinch strength, and extracurricular and leisure activities among U.S. university students. To address this gap, a correlational study was conducted using the Spearman rank correlation to analyze the relationship between phone use, activity participation, and hand strength. A Qualtrics survey including demographic information, phone usage, and activity participation was administered. Hand grip and pinch strength were also measured following the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) protocol. Participants were undergraduate and graduate students (n=166) at Belmont University who used an iPhone as their primary form of communication. Results revealed that sports participation was positively associated with all hand strength measures, whereas participation in arts and crafts showed significant negative associations across all measures. The combination of phone use and sports interaction was a negative predictor of right-hand pinch strength, suggesting that among sports participants, greater phone use was associated with lower right-hand pinch strength to a greater degree than among non-sports participants. These results indicate that participation in activities may have a stronger impact on hand strength than smartphone use alone, stressing the importance of factoring in the combined effects of phone use, physical activity, and leisure occupations when examining musculoskeletal outcomes in university students.
Recommended Citation
Gibbs, Debra; Best, Will; Adams, Raegan; Finke, Amanda; Pierce, Rachel; Swallows, Salem; and Yoo, Alisha, "The Relationship Between Phone Usage, Activity Participation, and Hand Strength" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 776.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/776
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Musculoskeletal System Commons, Occupational Therapy Commons
