The Impact of Screen Time on Perceived Stress Score, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure of College Students at Ohio Northern University
Advisor(s)
Dr. Rema Suniga
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
11-4-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
11-4-2025 10:50 AM
Abstract
College students are spending more time in front of their screens than ever. Prior research has linked high screen time to increased stress, higher blood pressure, and even depressive symptoms. This study investigated the effect of screen time on physiological stress indicators (heart rate [HR, bpm], blood pressure [mm Hg] and behavioral stress indicators (PSS-10) among 34 students, males and females, age 18-22. Student participants were grouped based on the length of daily screen time usage, namely: < 6 hrs, 6-8 hrs,(control) and > 8 hrs. ANOVA, followed by post-hoc t-tests showed that neither HR, mean arterial pressure (MAP) nor PSS-10 scores were significantly different between the three groups, by gender.
Despite a lack of significant data, subtle trends in MAP, HR, and PSS graphs suggest that screen time may still play a role in stress. Future research should focus on finding more participants and the impact of screen time before sleep to better understand its effects and manage their mental health more effectively.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Jacob Lee and Duggan, Stephen Patrick, "The Impact of Screen Time on Perceived Stress Score, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure of College Students at Ohio Northern University" (2025). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 2.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2025/Posters/2
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Available to ONU community via local IP address and ONU login.
The Impact of Screen Time on Perceived Stress Score, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure of College Students at Ohio Northern University
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
College students are spending more time in front of their screens than ever. Prior research has linked high screen time to increased stress, higher blood pressure, and even depressive symptoms. This study investigated the effect of screen time on physiological stress indicators (heart rate [HR, bpm], blood pressure [mm Hg] and behavioral stress indicators (PSS-10) among 34 students, males and females, age 18-22. Student participants were grouped based on the length of daily screen time usage, namely: < 6 hrs, 6-8 hrs,(control) and > 8 hrs. ANOVA, followed by post-hoc t-tests showed that neither HR, mean arterial pressure (MAP) nor PSS-10 scores were significantly different between the three groups, by gender.
Despite a lack of significant data, subtle trends in MAP, HR, and PSS graphs suggest that screen time may still play a role in stress. Future research should focus on finding more participants and the impact of screen time before sleep to better understand its effects and manage their mental health more effectively.