Influence of Smartphones on Childhood Trauma (Behavior): A Narrative Analysis of Secondary School at Karachi
Naseem Abdul Karim, Sadia Mumtaz, Muhammad Naeem- Psychiatry and Mental health
The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of smartphones on childhood trauma, particularly in the behavior of secondary school students in Karachi. The study used a qualitative approach and a sample size of ten (10) respondents, collected through snowball sampling. The data was gathered through structured interviews and analyzed using narrative and thematic analysis. The results indicated that excessive use of smartphones has negative effects on child behavior, including family and friend relationships, passions, and self-esteem. Moreover, the disproportionate smartphone use leads to reduced facial interaction, and increased loneliness, depression, stress, and anxiety among children. Children may also become disinterested in other activities due to the ease of accessing anything from anywhere through smartphones. The study recommends that parents monitor their children's social media use, be aware of the websites and games they visit, and encourage a balanced use of smartphones.