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MOBILE PHONES EXPOSURE AND ITS HEALTH RISKS DURING ONLINE

CLASS AMONG STEM STUDENTS: BASIS FOR AWARENESS TRAINING
PROGRAM

A Thesis
Presented to the
Faculty of the Senior High School
St. John Paul II College of Davao
Davao City

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the
Faculty Research

KYLA ALGUNAS

ANGEL NICOLE COQUILLA

JOHN NUYAD

JENNIFER C. VERONA

December 2020
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ENDORSEMENT AND APPROVAL SHEET

This research paper entitled “MOBILE PHONES EXPOSURE AND ITS

HEALTH RISKS AMONG STEM STUDENTS: BASIS FOR AWARENESS

TRAINING PROGRAM,” is prepared and submitted by the researchers, as their

partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Practical Research 2.

DR. ROXAN R. REMOROSA

SHS Principal

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

APPROVED by the Panel of Examiners on Oral Examination with a grade of

PASSED.

Jerome Jay V. Galan

Chairman

Dynah Solis
Member
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are extending our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who gave their

contribution and support for the success of this part of the research.

To Mr. Jerome Jay Galan, our teacher in Practical Research 2, for his

untiring guidance and understanding while we are making this research, thank you

so much.

To our parents who gave their support in the moral, emotional, and specially

the financial aspect which had been a great help in this research, thank you.

Most of all, we are extremely gratified to the Almighty who had been

guiding us in the process of making this study and for the hope that he gives us

so that we will be inspired to continue.

Ultimately, we would like to thank you all and until next time.

-The Researchers
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ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the health risks in exposure to

mobile phones of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

students in St. John Paul II College of Davao. Mobile phone exposure refers to

the students who are dependent on using their mobile phones. The goals of this

study are to find out methods and strategies which are more appropriate way to

use Mobile phones, to raise awareness about consistent exposure of phone, to

determine the significant difference of health risks of consistent mobile phone

exposure when analyzed by sex and to propose an awareness training program

based on the findings of the study. Using a descriptive research design, the data

were collected from fifty (50) STEM students randomly chosen through stratified

random sampling. The results show that there is a significant difference in the

level of health risks of STEM students when analyze by sex which has the p-

value of 0.01, where female has a high-level mean score of 3.51 in mobile phone

exposure while male has moderate level mean score of 3.29 in mobile phone

exposure. On the other hand, the level of physiological and psychological health

risks is high which means that the respondents oftentimes experienced these

impacts on their physiological and psychological well-being. Also, the level of

usage problem is very high to the respondents which means that they always

experienced these impacts towards their phone consumption.

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DEDICATION

This academic work is sincerely dedicated to the following:

God Almighty

Algunas Family

Coquilla Family

Nuyad Family

Verona Family

Sir Jerome Jay Galan

Our Lady of Lourdes

All Procrastinators
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE i

APPROVAL SHEET ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

iii

ABSTRACT

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES viii

LIST OF FIGURES ix

Chapter Page

1. INTRODUCTION

Rationale 1.

Research Objectives 2

Hypothesis 3

Review of Related Literature 4

Theoretical Framework 14

Conceptual Framework 16

Significance of the Study 17

Definition of Terms 18
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2. Method

Research Design 19

Research Locale
19

Population and Sample

20

Research Instrument 20

Data Collection 22

Statistical Tools 22
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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study

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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Mobile phone is the greatest new invention to humanity and it became

essential to human’s life. It brings advance specifications such as keeping and

taking photos, memories, user’s information and financial matters virtually.

Nowadays, we are too exposed in mobile phones specially in students who

undergoes online classes due to the pandemic. They are too exposed in a way

of using mobile phones for 10 hours or more. Consistent exposure on Mobile

phones can lead to physical and psychological problems such as having

aches/pains, lack of sleep and easily gets mad or annoyed (Singh, 2020).

According to the study lead by Trespalacios (2019) that the expansion of

Mobile phone exposure in Australia makes the population unsafe due to its

negative outcomes. Instant technological advancement over the recent years

have led to improvement of qualities but also result in some negative

consequences. These includes anxiety, change in behavior and serious health

disease.

Morgan (2019) stated that in the Philippines Mobile phone users are

always in touch in electronic communication and has the largest uses of texts

messaging, leading to its known name “The Texting Capital of the World”.

Consistent use of phones causes students to perform poorly in school because

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of lack in concentration due to not enough sleep (“Overuse of mobile gadgets”,

2015).

In a report, there are common scenario in Davao City that pedestrians

walking in the streets uses their phones and other gadgets at the same time. As

a result, it makes them more prone to accidents because those who are wearing

headphones may not hear when a vehicle is coming and those on their phones

may not see the vehicle is approaching (Davao wants to ban mobile phones while

walking, 2019).

The above context primarily discussed mobile phone exposure and its

health risks during online class in the current stage well by designing

questionnaires and a survey according to STEM students’ phone exposure and

their physical and the psychological problem that they experienced. The study

therefore analyzes and discuss to find out methods and strategies which are more

appropriate way to use Mobile phones, to overcoming their health problems, to

raise their awareness about consistent exposure of phone. This research is

different from the other because it tackles all in one about the three indicators

which are physiological problem, usage problem and psychological problem.

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Research Objectives

The main objective of the study was to determine the Health Risks in

the Exposure of Mobile phone During Online Class at Senior High School

Level, which was the basis for awareness training program.

The Specific objectives were enumerated as follows:

1. To determine the level of health risk on mobile phone exposure in terms

of:

1.1 Usage Problems

1.2 Physiological Problems

1.3 Psychological Problems

2. To determine the significant difference in the Mobile phones Exposure

and its Health Risks During Online Class when grouped by

2.1 Sex

3. To propose an awareness training program on the basis of the findings

of the study

Hypothesis

The null hypothesis of the study states that there is no significant

difference on the level of (main variable) of (respondents) when analyzed

by sex. It is tested at 0.05 level of significance.

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Review of Related Literature

The following is a review of the literature that supports the topic about

the Mobile phones Exposure and its Health Risks During Online Class

Among Stem Students with the following indicators: Usage Problems,

Physiological Problems, Psychological Problems (Stalin, 2016).

Mobile phone Health Risks

According to most scientist there is a certain consequence from using

too much phone. Some says that people who are conversing in their phone

for an hour a day have 50% chance of having brain cancer due to the phones

production of radio waves. As computed, human brain receives 220

electromagnetic impulses every minute which are unnecessarily dangerous

but it doesn’t mean it can’t affect the brain. Recent research stated that there

are two types of brain cancer that may occur in consistent use of phone it is

glioma and acoustic neuroma. Aside from cancer risk, Mobile phones affects

our nervous system (Frederiksen et al., 2016).

Acharya (2013) stated that phone exposure can caused eye strain due

to over staring at the phone screen. It can also cause sleeplessness and

tiredness. Body aches and vague pain were also the impact due to bad

posture while using mobile phone. As mobile phone users kept in touch to

the phone, sometimes they forgot to eat and skip their meals that could result

in loss of appetite and losing weight. It is proven that using phone too much
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can cause accidents on the roadside because of failure to notice and hear

vehicles approaching.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorized

radiofrequency electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones as a

“possible carcinogenic to people” but there is no clear evidence to it (Baan et

al., 2011). The American Cancer Society responded that there is a possibility

of risk but the evidence is not strong enough to prove the study and therefore

it is recommended to limit mobile phone exposure.

A number of studies have also researched the effects of mobile phone

exposure and was reported that the symptoms are confusion, fatigue,

discomfort, sleep quality, anxiety, tension and depression. The proven health

risk associated of phone exposure is traffic accident (Sanchez, 2006).

Public concerns about the possibility of too much exposure to

radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phones have been strike

because of its health defects. When making or receiving phone calls it emits

RF-EMF. However, they are non-ionizing and do not result in body’s blueprint

mutation. There is no proven evidence of causing cancer but it has thermal

effects in the human body like increased temperature in the tissues which is

the only foundation mechanism for biological effect. If there is an effect of

mobile phone use, then the mechanism would result in tumor (Kundi, 2009).

A numerous study investigating potential non-cancer effects of mobile

phone exposure. Most of the researched areas about non-cancer effects are
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cognitive functions (Thomas et al., 2010), psychiatric symptoms (Silva et al.,

2015), sleep quality (Exelmans & Bulck, 2016), fertility and sexual functions

(Yildirim et al., 2015), auditory changes (Sevi et al., 2014), physiological

changes (Parker, 2010) and the last one is muscoskeletal disorders

(Gustafsson et al., 2017).

Another study assessing the symptoms of mobile phone exposure.

Mobile phone users experienced headache, memory loss and noise in the

ear when they use it for how many hours (Benson et al., 2013).

Several studies have evaluated the effects of mobile phone exposure.

The most common symptoms experienced by mobile phone users are

depression, sleep disturbance, stress and headache. For the phones weak

signal coverage was associated to anxiety and irritability. Stress was

included also because when a person is in tension, restless and nervous their

mind is troubled all the time (Cannon, 2014).

As stated by Shresta (2017) there are several epidemiological studies

about human health effects of mobile phone. The focus of those studies are

tumor risks such as glioma (tumor in brain or spinal cord), meningioma (tumor

in the cover of brain and spinal cord), acoustic neuroma (tumor in the inner

ear to the brain), hormone gland tumor, salivary gland tumor and intra-

temporal facial nerve tumor (tumor in the skull base).

Research have shown the risk of bad posture that leads to

musculoskeletal injuries. It was tested whether text messaging increases

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musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and upper extremities and it was found

out that using phones and skeletal pain are related such as pain in the finger,

neck, back shoulder and other extremities (Cardis, 2008).

As claimed by Hocking (2000) mobile phones can damage the nerves

around ears. This study claims to have proof of change in nerve function in

the skin of the user around ear areas. When talking to someone in the phone

is shows responses in the user such as the complain of weird feeling in the

head.

A two-year research in Finland searched for the effects of mobile

phone radiation on human rather than those rats (Leszczynski, 2002). It was

found that when mobile phone radiation exposes to human it can damaged

blood drain barriers. It has also presented that mobile phones can damaged

cells without heating.

Mobile phone radiation can be absorbed by the human head. Human

head temperature expands when talking on the phone increased, this

temperature is called thermal radiation. Electromagnetic Radiation comes

from Wi-Fi and cell tower. However, those harmful health effects occur from

non-thermal exposure (Aghav, 2013).

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High frequency of mobile phone exposure was a risk factor of mental

health and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Headaches, dizziness, decreased memory and attention, nervous system

dysfunction, sleep disturbances and visual damage have been reported I

neurological and cognitive disorder. Mobile phone risk also has

interconnection with human heart. It has been found that 40 years old and

above showed slight decrease of pulse rate after exposure. It is advisable

that they should keep away from their phones so that it will not put stress to

their ageing hearts (Ayeni et al., 2011).

The study of Anderzejak et.al (2008) stated that mobile phone may

have impact in our heart rate and had been interpreted that changes in heart

rate during a mobile phone call could be the cause of electromagnetic field.

Dwivedi (2010) explains that the eye can absorb electromagnetic

energy very quick. He added that prolong exposure of mobile phones have

an impact to the retina, sclera, lens, cornea and other parts of the eye. Heat

absorb by the eye does not transferred out of the body.

As stated by De Salles (2006), children are more prone to the effects

of radiofrequency effects of mobile phones that adults because their brains

have higher level of fluid, skulls are thinner. As a result, the absorption rate

of the children can be higher than adult.

Mobile phones don’t only bring important data but also germs too.

Mobile phone users always put their phone in places where it can also have
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germs. Research found out that one out of six mobile phones is contaminated

with some dirt matter because the owner did not wash their hands with soap

or di not sanitized their hands after doing some dirty stuffs like using toilet.

E. coli bacteria were found in some phones if it is ingested into the body it

can cause sickness, vomiting and diarrhea. It was also found out that most

phones are contaminated with infectious bacteria and it can go in the deeper

parts of the body that will result in life-threatening infections in bones,

bloodstream, wounds, heart part and lungs (“Health Risk of Mobile Phones”,

2016).

Usage Problems

In our modern society, mobile phones have been considered as

necessary in our life. As a matter pf fact, it serves not just technological tool

but also a social tool. (Campbell, 2005). Mobile phones are very useful for

faster information spread and also in urgent situation. Mobile phone users

use their phones for text messaging, taking picture, sending photos or

videos, music play, downloading applications, surfing on the internet etc.,

(Smith, 2011). And according to Davie et al. (2004) that mobile phones are

the major source of connection from one to another.

In accordance to the study of Bianchi and Phillips (2005), addressed

that the common problem in an improper use of mobile phone revealed that

younger generation are exposed to its problem use. They were the most

common users of the text messaging and other features of mobile phones.
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Ross (2011) found that there are three types of mobile phone usage

problem, the first is that people who are addicted to mobile phone always

keep their mobile phones on. The second is that they tend to use their mobile

phones even when they have another optional device. Lastly, due to

dependent use of mobile phones they usually are threatened with financial

and social difficulties.

James and Drennan (2005) carried out research on students' mobile

phone use and he found out that the rate of usage everyday which is 2-5

hours a day. The findings showed a set of factors associated with overused

in mobile phones. These were: doing things without careful thought,

eagerness in mobile phones and failure of control strategies.

On the report of Kibona and Mgaya (2015) shows that most of the

students uses their mobile phone for social activities than doing educational

activities. Some of them takes to spend around 5 to 7 hours per day on their

mobile phone. This study further points out that most of the students are

dependent on their mobile phones.

In the study of Park (2005), he divided the respondents into light and

heavy user. Light user spends less than nine minutes of use while heavy user

takes more than nine minutes of using. The results showed that mobile phone

users were becoming dependent on mobile phones despite of having the

possibility to cause problem. Also, the users became highly anxious and

irritated when their mobile phone was not in their hands. This behavior

continued although these were warning signs of addiction.

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Mobile phone use might lead to problematic development of certain

behavior and mentality. Younger people in this era are so attach with their

mobile phone and that made them to feel they cannot live without their

phones around them. Students tend to rely on their mobile phones such as

surfing the internet and playing online games as a way to relieve their mental

stress from the problems they experienced from their friends, family, school

and work (Kim, 2013).

Koo et al. (2010) studied the same things on students and were asked

to fill out a questionnaire about their cell phone use. The results of the

questionnaires were 89% believed they were usual cell phone users, while

8.1% thought they were serious users and just 2.9% percent believed they

were enthusiastic to use the cell phones. The cell phone usage is usually

addictive especially in young ages. Sanchez-Carbonell et al. (2008) declared

that mobile phones can be used in an easy-going fashion.

Physiological Problem

One of the most commonly reported complaints from mobile phones is lack

of sleep, although accurate information has not been found. Experimental studies

are often difficult to interpret the negative impact on sleep behavior caused by an

unfamiliar environment. Project B202 was a double-blind study of potential mobile

phone effects in a familiar domestic setting. In the experiment conducted in the

rural areas in Germany where no mobile communication exists. In summary, the

study did not reveal any objectionable effects on sleep quality. However, sleep
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quality was affected even when the transmitters were not in operation. The authors

attribute that to health-related concerns (Danker, 2010).

The researchers measured the bone density at upper part of iliac

wings in men who are using mobile phones. Iliac wings are broadly used as

a source for bone grafting, so reduction in any bone density might lead to

reconstructive surgery. It is better if the mobile phone is away from the body

(Stoltny, 2015).

In accordance to the study of Sharma (2020), the effects of mobile

phone radiations on pregnant women are more carried by children because

they absorb more energy than adults from the same phone owing to their

smaller brain size and head, thinner skin and thinner cranial bones, lower

blood, more elastic ears, lower cell volume, greater conductivity of nerve cells

and the energy penetration is more deeply. Brain tumors are more serious

effect. Immune system of the child is not as well developed compared to

adults so children in the womb are prone to fight against cancer growth. It

was found out that mobile phone radiations are dangerous for women during

pregnancy and greater possibility for congenital malformations, risky life

inside the womb and behavioral problems in their children. It was also found

that the eggs which form the embryo are damage and affect apparent after

the child reaches puberty.

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Psychological Problem

Communication plays an important role of human life. This refers that

technology changes quickly to match human needs. In the modernization of

our society, communication becomes easier with the development of

technology and it influences the style of communication between each

individual. However, social engagement between each individual has

changed by limiting their face to face interaction and develop more chat

rooms communication. It can cause lack of real-life social interaction that

results to relationship issue and interference in students’ academic work

(Kuss & Griffiths, 2011).

Society is into mobile phone world now, and obviously it can be seen

that individuals are spending most of their time on the screen chatting and

engaging in social media than meeting face to face with their friends and

families even if the purpose of phone’s application is to increase the

interaction with social mates easily and freely but as a result it poses danger

on relationship between human. Even though individuals are able to create

groups of friends and communicate through various social medias, but oral

communication is seen to be lack. The finding based on study conducted

shows that conversations without mobile devices have a bigger comparison

compared to the interaction with the presence of mobile communication

technologies (Misra et al., 2014).

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Study conducted of on mobile phone users revealed that overuse

mobile phone users experience higher level of depression and anxiety

compare to moderate mobile phone users (Hwang et al., 2012).

The study of Berger (2013) shows that students who uses mobile

phone too much tend to achieve lower grades and have higher anxiety and

felt less happy than students who do not utilize mobile phone frequently.

Smith (2013) also agreed that students tend to have high anxiety and

their GPA was low when they tend to use their phone more. The students

mention that they had anxiety when they had to be away from their phone for

period amount of time as they are dependent on their phone. The increasing

frequency and time spent on mobile phones among youth can be seen as an

indicator of development of mobile phone use, from a habit to an addiction

(Roberts et al., 2014).

Researcher explored the ringxiety (phantom ringing) and other

perceived effects of mobile phones, as well as the pattern of the mobile

phone usage among students and they found that the person whom they

talked to on their phones were parents of the students and students talked

for less than half hour in a day. “Ringxiety” were more likely to use their

phones at restricted place like classrooms and libraries (Subba et al., 2013).

According to Cagan et al. (2010) stated that daily mobile phone use

has increased the level of addiction. It has been established that there is a
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negative relation between addiction to mobile phone such as academic

failure and level of depression.

Sheopuri (2014) observed the addictive behavior towards the usage

of mobile phones and the relation between mobile phone users and the

psychological behavior among adolescents. They showed that cell phone

usage is so strongly vulnerable in to young people’s behavior such as cell

phone usage interrupting phone owner’s daily activities.

Theoretical Framework

Continuous usage of technology is defined as the long-term usage of

an innovation or information technology (Premkumar & Bhattacherjee, 2008).

Conceptually, this continuous usage would occur on a regular basis (Meister

& Compeau, 2002). For example, users’ habit such as booking hotels

through online reservation web sites but did not visit these sites regularly, are

still considered continuous users. This scenario can be regarded as the post-

acceptance stage in the innovation diffusion model, wherein users accept a

technology and continue using it and they possibly even consider this usage

as normal activity.

Temporal discounting theory asserts that in a delayed outcome (the

future) may disregard by some individuals, which is the impulsive decision

areas of the brain take over and the individuals perform an immediate action

(Bickel et al. 2014). The decision section of the brain regulates social

competence, whereas the impulsive decision is brief and intense. For

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instance, in a study of texting addiction, Atchley and Warden (2012)

discovered that individuals who believe information will lose its worth over

time can’t control themselves and must respond to the texts instantly.

In the theory of Information System Continuance Model has shown

that as individuals develop strong automatic signs over time, certain

behaviors become associated and habits become addictions (Robinson and

Berridge 2001). Examples of such addictions can be found from the use of

social media platforms in which individuals feel they cannot handle their

eagerness to use the systems and having strong desire can become

addictions (Turel and Serenko 2012). Similarly, Bright et al. (2015) addresses

how habitual usage is involved in the dependency of social medias. Society

culture has also been found to influence addiction to the Internet.

Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation that involves conflict in

attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort

leading to a change in the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. One of the principles

of this theory is the Cognitive Consistency which states that we have an inner

drive to control all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid

disharmony (or dissonance). When there is an inconsistency between

attitudes or behaviors, something must change to eliminate it. The theory of

cognitive dissonance has been widely researched to develop the main idea

in more specific details and its various factors that have been identified which

may be important in attitude change.

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Conceptual Framework

Figure 1 illustrate the conceptual framework showing the

variable of the study consists the main variable of the problems

in mobile phone exposure among STEM students which

consisted with indicators of usage, physiological and

psychological problems. Usage problems, which refers to the

uncontrolled exposure in using mobile phones; physiological

problems, which refers to the physical effects that was

experienced by mobile phone users; and, psychological

problems which refers to the shown behavior of the phone’s

user. The basis variable is awareness training program.

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PROFILE

• Sex

Input

Figure 1. The Conceptual Framework of the Study

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Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to the students and other phone users in

the study of problems in Mobile phone Exposure and its Health Risks During

Online Class among STEM students. Strategic management and Limitation

should employ to avoid negative impacts regarding to their health effective.

By understanding and giving awareness of the effects of mobile phones

especially on the users’ health. Moreover, this research will provide

recommendations on how to cope up on the dependency of Mobile phones

so that it will keep the users away from health risks. Mobile phone improves

and excels a person to be more technologically-competitive however it can

pose harm in each of the users. The result of the study will help for the future

researchers to expand the people’s awareness in dealing with mobile phone.

The future researchers would also benefit from study by using their reference

in conducting another study, particularly on the different factors on this study.

For students, it will serve as an awareness to them that they should limit the

usage of mobile phone and give some prior knowledge about the negative

impacts in consistently using of mobile phones especially to its negative

impacts in the health.

For teachers, it will make a way to the teachers that they should educate

themselves and others on how to use mobile phones properly in order to

avoid mobile phone health risks.

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For parents, this is one of the ways for parents to become updated in mobile

phone health effects so that they will control the mobile phone usage of their

children through adding restrictions and limiting them.

Definition of Terms

The terms used in the study are operationally defined as follows:

Mobile Phone Exposure. This refers to the students who are

dependent on using their mobile phones.

Awareness Training Program. This refers to the program that

undertaken only when a clear awareness training objective has been

produced. The awareness training program objective clears what goal has to

achieved by the end of program instruction.

Stem Students. This refers to the students who will be the

respondents of the study.

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Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY

Shown in the chapter are the discussions on the research design, the

procedure in conducting and identifying the respondents, the instrument

used, and the statistical tools employee.

Research Design

This study employed a descriptive research design in which a

questionnaire was utilized to survey the mobile phone exposure and its

health risks during online class among STEM students. The use of

descriptive design is an extremely effective way of collecting information

more cost effectively from a large number of respondents and in relatively

short time. Another advantage of the design is that respondents are more

truthful while responding to the questionnaire especially regarding sensitive

personal data since the responses are anonymous. (Leedy & Ormrod, 2012).

Crosswell (2003), asserts that the quantitative research applies

strategies of inquiry such as experimental and survey, and collected data on

pre-determined instrument that yield statistical data.

Research Locale

The research study was conducted in the one of the private schools

in Davao. It has 9 college courses which are the College of Business

Administration, College of Education, College of Criminal Justice Education,

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College of Nursing, College of Engineering, College of Hospitality and

Management, College of Information Technology, College of Department

and College of Kinematics. There are also 4 Senior High Schools strands in

this school: The Technical Vocational (TECHVOC), General Academic

Strand (GAS), Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) and Science

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The chosen

respondents of this study are the grade 12 students who undertake the

Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand.

Population and Sample

The respondents of this study were 50 participants. All were students

of from science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) strand

grade 12 female with 26 respondents and grade 12 male with 24 respondents

during first semester of school year 2020-2021. Stratified random sampling

method has used in selecting from science technology, engineering, and

mathematics (STEM) strand.

Table 1. Frequency Distribution of the Respondents

SEX POPULATION(N) SAMPLE(n)

Female 83 26

Male 74 24

Total 157 50
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Research Instrument

This researcher adopted a survey questionnaire. The first draft was

submitted to the researcher adviser for comments and suggestion then to the

principal to make sure that the questionnaire was valid and reliable. The

mention questionnaire gauged the level of mobile phone usage and its health

effects during online class among STEM students, which was the basis for

Awareness Training Program with indicators, phone usage and health

problems.
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The variable of the study was scaled using the 5-level Likert scaling

system as follows:

Parameter Descriptive Level Interpretation

4.20-5.00 Very High The level of Mobile Phone

Exposure and Its Health Risks
among STEM students is always
experienced.

3.40-4.19 High The level of Mobile Phone

Exposure and Its Health Risks
among STEM students is often
times experienced.

2.60-3.39 Moderate The level of Mobile Phone

Exposure and Its Health Risks
among STEM students is
sometimes experienced.

1.80-2.59 Low The level of Mobile Phone

Exposure and Its Health Risks
among STEM students is seldom
experienced.

1.00-1.79 Very Low The level of Mobile Phone

Exposure and Its Health Risks
among STEM students is never
.
experienced.
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Data Collection

The researcher conducted the following steps in the study. A letter

asking permission to conduct a survey was forwarded to the Assistant Vice

President for self-purpose and research duty noted by the principal of the

senior high school department, asking permission to conduct a survey Mobile

Phone Usage and Its Health Effects During Online Class among STEM

students. Upon them in answering the said questionnaires at the same time.

Questionnaires were then retrieved by the researcher after the participant

answered them in the data collected where tallied for statistical analysis.

Statistical Tool

The data were treated using the following statistical tools.

Mean. this was used to determine the level of Mobile Phone Usage

and Its Health Risks During Online Class among STEM students

T-test. This was used to determine the significant difference on the

level of Mobile Phone Usage and Its Health Effects among STEM students

when analyzed by sex.

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Chapter 3

RESULTS

The data gathered from the respondents on Mobile phones exposure

and its health risks during online class among STEM students are presented,

analyzed an interpreted in this chapter is based on the research objective

previously stated. Discussions of topics are arranged based on subheadings

as follows: Mobile phones exposure and its health risks among STEM

students: basis for awareness training design. Significant difference of the

level of Mobile phones exposure and its health risks during online class

among grade 12 STEM students when analyzed by sex.

Level of health risks on mobile phone exposure among Grade 12 STEM

students

Presented in table 2 is the level of Mobile phones exposure and its

health risks during online class among Grade 12 STEM students with an

overall standard deviation score of 0.1685 and an overall mean of 3.4333.

Usage problem with the mean of 3.71 described as very high level;

Physiological problem with the mean of 3.31 described as high level and the

last one Psychological Problems with the mean of 3.27 described as high

level. The high level of Physiological problem and Psychological Problems

towards health risks on mobile phone exposure is the most common problem

that students suffer. A number of studies have also researched the effects of

mobile phone exposure and was reported that the symptoms are confusion,
 P a g e | 35

fatigue, discomfort, sleep quality, anxiety, tension and depression (Sanchez,

2006).

Usage problem with the standard deviation score of 0.64 which means

the data is identical; Physiological problem with the standard deviation score

of 0.52 which also means that the data is identical and the last one

Psychological Problems with the standard deviation score of 0.31 which

means the data is identical as well.

Table 2. Level of health risks on mobile phone exposure

 P a g e | 36

Significant Differences on the Mobile phone exposure and its health risks

during online class among Grade 12 STEM students when analyzed by sex.

Shown in the table 3 is the computation on the significant differences

on the level of health risks on Mobile phone exposure during online class

among Grade 12 STEM students when analyzed by sex.

The assessment of the respondents was compared by various sex

brackets on the indicators indicating significant differences since there are 2

p-values that are less than 0.05 significance level and 1 p-values that is more

than 0.05 significance level. This means that there is significant differences

on the Mobile phone exposure and its health risks during online class among

grade 12 STEM students when analyzed by sex.

Among the three indicators, 1 showed that there is no significant

differences when analyzed by sex. Also, 2 indicators showed that there is a

significant difference when analyzed by sex. Male respondents have

moderate level of mobile phone exposure in STEM students with the mean

score of 3.29, while the female has a high level of mobile phone exposure in

STEM students with the mean score of 3.51.

 P a g e | 37

Table 3: Significant Difference on the Level of Mobile phone exposure and its
health risks during online class among Grade 12 STEM students when analyzed
by sex.

However, the computed overall t-value 2.09 with p-value 0.01, which

is less than 0.05 and shows significant difference and therefore leads to the

rejection of the null hypothesis. This means that the male and female

respondents have difference level of health risks on mobile phone exposure

due to its total.

Awareness Training Program

In answer to the last objective of this study, the awareness training

program has been crafted out based on results of the study. The paper is

found in succeeding page complete with the matrix of activities.

 P a g e | 38

“Awareness Training Program for Health Risks of Mobile Phone

Exposure among Grade 12 STEM Students”

Rationale

In the study on the level of health risks on mobile phone exposure

during online class among Grade 12 STEM students, it is indicated that all

indicators have high descriptive level equivalence. Furthermore, female and

male students have a high level of intentional control. Awareness programs

means community-wide or audience- specific programs, campaigns, or

initiatives that increase audience knowledge and share information and

resources to prevent violence, promote safety, health awareness and reduce

perpetration. With the help of organizing various awareness programs

regarding ill effects of prolonged mobile phone usage will make the student

population more responsible for their own health.

Use of mobile phone causes significant harm to the health of an

individual. The younger generation is aware of the harmful effects but they

are not disciplined and not sensitized about precautions that must be taken

to reduce the addictive nature of electronic devices with internet capability. It

also indicates there is need to increase experiential learning and outdoor

activities (sports, outbound events, field visit, quizzes, debates, role plays

etc.) in the teaching learning process which will keep them busy and engaged

thereby reducing mobile phone usage (Chukhare & Jadhav 2019).

 P a g e | 39

On the other hand, health risks due to excessive mobile phone usage

could be reduced by self- discipline and setting limits to the usage of mobile

phones. Moreover, reducing the internet usage and adopting recreation

activities that are physically engaging could reduce the usage of cell phones.

The mobile phones must only be used for shorter duration of time (Naeem,

2014).

Objective

The awareness training program has the following objectives as follows:

1. To increase the level of health risks awareness on

mobile phone exposure during online class among grade 12

STEM students from high to very high level.

2. To maintain a very high level of health risks awareness

among grade 12 STEM students.

3. To assess students regarding their level of health risks

awareness among grade 12 STEM students.

 P a g e | 40

KEY OBJECTIVE/A TIME FACTOR PERSON EXPECTED

RESULTS CTI INVOLVED
AREA VITIES
A. High A. To increase
mean scores the level of
in level of health risks
health risks awareness on
on mobile mobile phone
phone exposure
exposure during online
among class among
grade 12 grade 12
STEM STEM students
students from high to
very high level.

1.Share Students can be

informations more
Students
that will expand knowledgeable and
and other
their share it to others
phone
knowledge and Thrice in a week who are unaware of
users
awareness on mobile phone health
mobile phone risks.
health risks.

Students will find

2.Encourage their own way to
students to Students
keep on balancing
have control on and other
Five times a phone their time and focus
their mobile on the necessary
week users
phone things to do.
exposure.
 P a g e | 41

B. The very B. To maintain

high mean a very high
scores in level of health
level of risks
health risks awareness
on mobile among grade
phone 12 STEM
exposure students.
among
grade 12
STEM
students

.
1. Set daily
plan to facilitate Students It can be easier for
productivity and other them to manage
and give phone their time as well as
alternative Everyday users their phone
routine advice exposure.
such as healthy
lifestyle so that
they are not
more focus on
their mobile
phones.
 P a g e | 42

Chapter 4

DISCUSSION

Presented in this chapter is the discussion of data on the level of health

risks on mobile phone exposure during online class among Grade 12 STEM

students and the significant difference among the sex.

Level of health risks on mobile phone exposure among Grade 12 STEM

students

The high level of health risks on mobile phone exposure among Grade 12

STEM students is allied to the viewpoint of Meister & Compeau (2002), who

pointed out about post-acceptance stage in the innovation diffusion model,

wherein users accept a technology and continue using it and they possibly even

consider this usage as normal activity. As a result, they experienced health risks

due to the excessive use of mobile phone.

In addition, Acharya (2013) stated that phone exposure can caused eye

strain due to over staring at the phone screen. It can also cause sleeplessness

and tiredness. Body aches and vague pain were also the impact due to bad

posture while using mobile phone. As mobile phone users kept in touch to the

phone, sometimes they forgot to eat and skip their meals that could result in loss

of appetite and losing weight.

 P a g e | 43

Furthermore, several studies have evaluated the effects of mobile phone

exposure. The most common symptoms experienced by mobile phone users are

depression, sleep disturbance, stress and headache. For the phones weak signal

coverage was associated to anxiety and irritability. Stress was included also

because when a person is in tension, restless and nervous their mind is troubled

all the time (Cannon, 2014).

Significant difference of the Level of Health Risks on Mobile phone

Exposure among grade 12 STEM students when grouped by Sex

The finding revealed that there is significant difference in the level of

health risks on mobile phone exposure among STEM students when

analyzed by sex. This means that the male and female don’t exhibit the same

level of health risks. It was studied that females are more dependent on

smartphones than males. Females primarily use their phones to keep in

contact with valued people while males use their phones for functional

purposes, such as work-related use. Thus, it seems that males and females

have different smartphone use patterns (Billieux et al., 2008).

As to level of health risks on mobile phone among STEM students,

there is significant difference between sex. The male and female students

have a high level of physiological and psychological health risks. Also, male

and female have a very high level of health risks in usage problem.

Smartphones usage impacts most adolescents from so many years. It is not

a new issue at all. But the increasing trend of cell phone addiction and poor
 P a g e | 44

psychological and physiological health of adolescents urged (Shoukat S.

2019).

Conclusion

The aforementioned result and finding are the baseline data in

formulation of following conclusion; The level of physiological and

psychological health risks is high which means that the respondents

oftentimes experienced these impacts on their physiological and

psychological well-being. On the other hand, the level of usage problem is

very high to the respondents which means that they always experienced

these impacts towards their phone consumption. There is a significant

difference in the level of health risks of STEM students when analyze by sex

which has the p-value of 0.01, where female has a high-level mean score of

3.51 in mobile phone exposure while male has moderate level mean score

of 3.29 in mobile phone exposure.

Recommendation

Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following

recommendations are crafted for consideration of the beneficiaries of this

study. The students should be aware of what will be the possible outcome in

consistently using mobile phones not just by the students but also other

phone users who will read this study. Students should be able to understand

how important our whole well-being is and they should engage healthy

lifestyle as well as healthy environment. May the parents’ guide their children

in managing their phone consumption and encourage them to do something

 P a g e | 45

together without the involvement of digital devices. to strive hard for their

studies, and to teach their children in managing their time. For the teachers,

they have to give their students a time to relax from all the tasks so that they

can ease their body and mind from too much exposure in phones and other

gadgets during online class. Also, for future researchers, they should use the

results of this study as a second source of data and expand this study in

order to be more understandable and relevant.

 P a g e | 46

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 P a g e | 52

Appendices
 P a g e | 53

Appendix A:

Permission Letter to Conduct A Study

ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO

Ecoland Drive, Matina, Davao City

September 29, 2020

DR. ROXAN RUBIC-REMOROSA

SHS Principal
St. John Paul II College of Davao
Ecoland Drive, Matina, Davao City

DearMa’am
:
Greetings!

The undersigned and her co-researchers are currently working on their

research paper entitled “MOBILE PHONES EXPOSURE AND ITS HEALTH

RISKS AMONG STEM STUDENTS: BASIS FOR AWARENESS TRAINING

PROGRAM”. In view hereof, the undersigned humbly asks permission from

your office to be allowed to conduct the study and distribute survey

questionnaire to the respondents. Attached herewith is the research

instrument to be used.

Your positive response of the said request is vital for the completion of this

academic undertaking.

God bless and more power!

 P a g e | 54

Respectfully yours,

Group Leader

JENNIFER VERONA

Noted by:

JEROME JAY GALAN

Research Adviser
 P a g e | 55

Appendix B

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

(To be answered by STEM students)

This adapted survey questionnaire is utilized to determine the

influence of online teaching readiness on the technology integration
knowledge of faculty. Kindly follow the directions provided for each part of
the research instrument. Your honest answer to each statement will help the
researcher to come up with a sound results to refine the college instructional
programs and initiatives. Confidentiality and anonymity of your responses
shall be guaranteed with stringent observance on the rule of Data Privacy
Act, R.A. 10173.

I. Respondents Profile

Sex: Male ( ) Female ( )

Grade Level: Grade 11 ( ) Grade 12 ( )

II. Level of student’s mathematical interest and habits of STEM students:

Basis for student’s mathematical interest and habits.

 P a g e | 56

A. Student- Related Factors

Direction: Please check (✓) and rate yourself honestly based on what you
actually do given the statements using the following scale:

5 – Always 4 – Often 3 – Sometimes 2 – Rarely 1 –Never

A. Usage Problem 5 4 3 2 1
1. Do you spend more than 10 hours on
your phone?
2. Does your parent limit the time you
spend on your phone?

3. Do you use your phone during class?

4. Is your phone turned on while you study?

5. Do you use your phone to avoid being

bored?

B. Physiological Problem 5 4 3 2 1

Do you experience the following while

using phone consistently…
1. Headache

2. Earache

3. Painful fingers

4. Body pain

5. Neck pain

6. Vision problems

7. Tiredness

8. Short sleep

9. Restlessness

10. Easily forgot something

 P a g e | 57

B. Psychological Problem 5 4 3 2 1

Do you experience the following while

using phone consistently…
1. Low mental well-being

2. No actual social interaction

3. Anxiety

4. Sleep problem

5. Stress

Thank you very much for your time and efforts. -The Researchers-