To excel or not to excel: Strong evidence on the adverse effect of smartphone addiction on academic performance

This study aimed to verify whether achieving a distinctive academic performance is unlikely for students at high risk of smartphone addiction. Additionally, it verified whether this phenomenon was equally applicable to male and female students. After implementing systematic random sampling, 293 university students participated by completing an online survey questionnaire posted on the university's student information system. The survey questionnaire collected demographic information and responses to the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) items. The results showed that male and female university students were equally susceptible to smartphone addiction. Additionally, male and female university students were equal in achieving cumulative GPAs with distinction or higher within the same levels of smartphone addiction. Furthermore, undergraduate students who were at a high risk of smartphone addiction were less likely to achieve cumulative GPAs of distinction or higher.