THE EFFECT OF DIGITAL STRESS ON BRAIN FOG IN MIDWIFERY STUDENTS
Abstract views: 0
/ 
PDF downloads: 0
Keywords:
Midwifery Student, Brain Fog, Digital StressAbstract
Health sciences students intensively use digital platforms due to the nature of their educational processes, and this situation may affect their levels of digital stress. In particular, online courses, digital learning materials, and academic communication being largely conducted through digital environments can create a continuous cognitive and psychological burden on students. Digital stress is a multidimensional condition that may negatively affect not only psychological well-being but also cognitive processes such as attention, concentration, and mental performance. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between digital stress and brain fog symptoms among midwifery students. The research was conducted using a cross-sectional and descriptive design. Data were collected through a sociodemographic information form, the Digital Stress Scale, and the Brain Fog Scale. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 26.0 statistical software, and descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis were applied. The results indicated a significant and positive relationship between digital stress and brain fog symptoms. In addition, sociodemographic variables such as age, grade level, employment status, and perceived income level were found to have no significant effect on digital stress and brain fog. Based on these findings, it is recommended to develop educational programs aimed at improving students’ digital media literacy and coping skills for digital stress, as well as to strengthen university-based services that support psychological well-being and digital balance.
References
Marzilli, E., Cerniglia, L., Ballarotto, G., & Cimino, S. (2020). Internet addiction among young adult university students: The complex interplay between family functioning, impulsivity, depression, and anxiety. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 8231. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218231
Salisanasti, A. P., Salsabila, F., Khairunnisa, A., Riyanti, R. R., & Rahayu, W. F. (2025). Stres digital dan gangguan tidur: Tinjauan literatur. Jurnal Ilmu Psikologi dan Kesehatan, 2(3), 150–157. https://jurnal.kopusindo.com/index.php/jipk/article/view/1476
Karafil, B., & Uyar, A. (2023). Exploring the relationship between digital addiction and online learning readiness levels of university students. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 6(3), 647–664. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1268410
Theopilus, Y., Al Mahmud, A., Davis, H., Octavia, J. R., & Athalia, N. (2025). Digital tools to protect young children from internet addiction: Co-designing with children and parents. Interacting with Computers. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2025.2527846
Kumar, R., Kumari, S., Bharti, P., & Sharma, D. (2021). Nomophobia: A rising concern among Indian students. Indian Psychiatry Journal, 30(2), 230–233. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_134_21
Naz, İ., & Qamar, A. (2025). The silent strains and blurred minds: A study of digital screen time, mental fatigue and brain fog among university students. Journal of Regional Studies Review, 4(2), 71–79.
Adil, T., Umna, F., Raza, A. A., Mansoor, F., Riaz, S., & Mirza, U. B. (2025). Prevalence of nomophobia and its association with brain fog: A cross-sectional study among general population of Karachi. Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 61, 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-01039-3
Kuşçu, F. N., & Göde, A. (2024). Dijital çağın sebep olduğu duygu ve davranış bozuklukları. ASSAM Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi, 25, 30–44.
Peng, Y., Zhou, H., Zhang, B., Mao, H., Hu, R., & Jiang, H. (2022). Perceived stress and mobile phone addiction among college students during the coronavirus disease pandemic: The mediating roles of rumination and the moderating role of self-control. Personality and Individual Differences, 185, 111222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111222
Erinç, Z. Ö., İnce, G., Eliaçık, K., Kılıç Öztürk, Y., Elmalı, F., Emir, B., Kanık, M. A., & Helvacı, M. (2022). Adaptation of social media use disorder scale: Validity and reliability study. İzmir Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 1(1), 12–17. https://izlik.org/JA64CU23DL
Atik, D., & Manav, A. I. (2023). A scale development study: Brain fog scale. Psychiatria Danubina, 35(1), 73–79.
Looti, M., & Abd-alazim, M. (2025). Brain fog: The impact of excessive smart device use on subjective cognitive clarity among young adults. Al-Zahraa Journal for Health and Medical Sciences, 3(3), 22–36.
Ibrahim, R. K., Khaled, M., Almansoori, M., Almazrouei, M., Ashraf, A., Alahmedi, S. H., & Hendy, A. (2025). Screen time and stress: Understanding how digital burnout influences health among nursing students. BMC Nursing, 24(1), 990. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03621-9
Göldağ, B. (2022). An investigation of the relationship between university students’ digital burnout levels and perceived stress levels. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, 7(1), 90–98. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.958039
Smith, A. C., Fowler, L. A., Graham, A. K., Jaworski, B. K., Firebaugh, M.-L., Monterubio, G. E., Vázquez, M. M., DePietro, B., Sadeh-Sharvit, S., & Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E. (2021). Digital overload among college students: Implications for mental health app use. Social Sciences, 10(8), 279. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10080279
Zhao, C., Xu, H., Lai, X., Yang, X., Tu, X., Ding, N., Lv, Y., & Zhang, G. (2021). Effects of online social support and perceived social support on the relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage among Chinese undergraduates. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 14, 529–539. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S302551
Zhang, J., & Wang, E. (2022). Indulging in smartphones in times of stress: A moderated mediation model of experiential avoidance and trait mindfulness. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12120485
Liu, S., & Chen, Y. (2022). Perceived stress and problematic smartphone use in Chinese college students: Loneliness as a mediator and gender as moderator. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1057544. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1057544
Fantinelli, S., Esposito, C., Carlucci, L., Limone, P., & Sulla, F. (2023). The influence of individual and contextual factors on the vocational choices of adolescents and their impact on well-being. Behavioral Sciences, 13(3), 233. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13030233
Makenzie, L., Sarah, E., Kristin, R., & Melissa, D. (2018). Health behaviors of student community research partners when designing and implementing a healthy lifestyle intervention on college campuses. Behavioral Sciences, 8(11), 99. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8110099
Li, Y., Wang, Z., You, W., & Liu, X. (2022). Core self-evaluation, mental health and mobile phone dependence in Chinese high school students: Why should we care. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 48(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-022-01217-6
Sun, L., Fu, Z., & Zheng, Y. (2021). Shyness and loneliness among Chinese young adults: The roles of aggression and gender. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 30(1), 43–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2020.1725209
Zayed, A. M. (2025). Digital media multitasking and its relationship to cognitive representation efficiency and attentional control in adolescents with low and high digital resilience. Egyptian Journal of Educational Sciences, 13.
Ekrem, S., Bagci, J., & Karamoglu, E. (2025). Media multitasking and its impact on attention and emotional well-being among university students. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6702175/v1
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Göbeklitepe Medical Science Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The journal is licensed under a 