Prevalence of text neck syndrome among junior college students in Sangli, India: a cross-sectional study

Background: Prolonged smartphone usage and sustained forward head posture can lead to text neck syndrome (TNS), a repetitive stress condition associated with neck pain and functional disability. Adolescents and students are particularly vulnerable because of increased screen exposure for educational and recreational purposes. This study determines the prevalence of text neck syndrome among junior college students and identifies the association with neck disability. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 junior college students aged 16-19 years in Sangli, Maharashtra, India. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, the Text Neck Questionnaire (TNQ), and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. Results: Among the participants, 153 (59.1%) were females and 107 (40.9%) were males. Based on NDI scores, 72 (27.7%) had no disability, 80 (30.8%) had mild disability, 58 (22.3%) had moderate disability, 34 (13.1%) had severe disability, and 16 (6.1%) had complete disability. The prevalence of text neck syndrome based on the Neck Disability Index (NDI ≥5) was 72.3% (188/260; 95% CI: 66.6%-77.4%). A statistically significant association was observed between prolonged smartphone usage duration and neck disability (p<0.001). Higher TNQ scores were significantly associated with worsening neck disability (p<0.001). Conclusions: The text neck syndrome is highly prevalent among junior college students. Poor posture, prolonged smartphone usage, and lack of ergonomic awareness contributed significantly to neck disability. Awareness programs and ergonomic interventions are recommended to reduce long-term musculoskeletal complications.