This is an early access version
University of East Sarajevo) Faculty of Medicine Foca , Foca , Bosnia and Herzegovina
(University of East Sarajevo) Faculty of Medicine Foca , Foca
(University of East Sarajevo) Faculty of Medicine Foca , Foca
Faculty of Medicine Foča, University of East Sarajevo , Lukavica , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Medicine Foča, University of East Sarajevo , Lukavica , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Foča, University of East Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction. The increasing use of digital devices among university students has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on physical and mental health. However, the independent contribution of different patterns of screen use remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine screen use patterns among medical students and to assess their associations with selected health outcomes, with a particular focus on identifying independent predictors.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 medical students aged 19–26 years. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire assessing daily screen time, timing of use, physical activity, and health-related outcomes. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of sleep disturbances, anxiety, and musculoskeletal pain.
Results. The median daily screen time was five hours. The most frequently reported health issues were eye strain (56.3%), musculoskeletal pain (53.1%), sleep disturbances (46.9%), and anxiety (40.6%). A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between screen time and sleep disturbances (rs = 0.209, p = 0.044, N = 93 due to missing data for three participants). In multivariate analysis, late-night screen use was identified as an independent predictor of sleep disturbances (OR = 9.37, 95% CI: 1.96–44.75, p = 0.005), whereas total screen time was not significant after adjustment. No independent predictors were identified for anxiety or musculoskeletal pain.
Conclusion. The findings suggest that the impact of screen use on health outcomes is domain-specific. Behavioral patterns, particularly late-night use, appear to be more relevant than total screen time in relation to sleep disturbances. These results highlight the importance of a behavior-oriented approach to digital media use among students.
Authors retain copyright. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 
0
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.