Volume: 46 Issue: 2
Year: 2026, Page: 146-152, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51248/v46i2.48
Received: May 11, 2026 Accepted: June 30, 2026 Published: July 2, 2026
Introduction: Pervasive use of electronic devices has significantly transformed daily routines and behavioral patterns across all age groups. Among medical students, digital devices are integral for academic activities and social interactions. However, excessive and unregulated screen time is increasingly prevalent and may impact psychological and physical health.
Aim: To examine digital behavior, daytime sleepiness, and abdominal obesity among preclinical medical undergraduates.
Methods and materials: This cross-sectional study involved 122 preclinical medical undergraduate students (63% female) from a private medical college in Chennai, with minimal exercise routine. Digital behavior was evaluated using the 18-item Digital Screen Exposure Questionnaire (DSEQ). Daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth sleep scale (ESS). Data on Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) were collected to assess abdominal obesity.
Results: Most participants (92%) used screens for over 2 hours daily, with higher usage of portable devices on weekends and weeknights. Higher prevalence of daytime sleepiness (69.7% with ESS ≥10) was observed. While higher screen time was associated with increased WHR and ESS, these associations were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Device-specific and timing-related screen behaviors are prevalent among medical students and that increased screen time may be linked to adverse health outcomes. Promoting healthy digital habits and strategies to optimize screen use could enhance sleep hygiene, academic performance, and overall well-being.
Keywords: Digital behaviour, Screen time, Daytime sleepiness, Medical students, abdominal obesity.
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Elavarasi Sivakumar, Lavanya Sekhar, Sam Ezekiah A, Preetha Paul. Exploring Digital Behavior among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Biomedicine: 2026, 46(2): 146-152