Effect of Prolonged Mobile Phone Use on Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function Among Students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

The widespread adoption of smartphones among Nigerian university students has raised concerns regarding its effects on physiological and cognitive well-being. This study examined the effect of prolonged mobile phone use on sleep quality and cognitive function among 180 students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in Kaduna State. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a validated cognitive assessment battery that measured attention span, working memory, and processing speed. Mobile phone usage duration was self-reported and corroborated with screen time data from participants' devices. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson correlation and multiple regression, were applied. Results indicated that students using mobile phones for more than four hours daily reported significantly poorer sleep quality scores, with increased sleep onset latency and reduced total sleep duration. Cognitive performance scores, particularly in attention and memory tasks, were inversely correlated with daily screen time. Female students reported higher phone use duration but comparable cognitive impacts. The study concludes that excessive mobile phone use poses a measurable physiological burden on sleep architecture and higher brain function among young adults in northern Nigeria. Institutional awareness campaigns and digital hygiene education are strongly recommended. Keywords: mobile phone use, sleep quality, cognitive function, university students, Zaria.