77 pc college students report seating discomfort: Godrej study

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Survey of 1,000 pupils flags concerns over prolonged sitting, screen exposure and classroom ergonomics

Chandigarh: As many as 77 per cent of college students report discomfort with classroom seating, with inadequate desk-to-chair spacing, lack of cushioning and improper height alignment among the key concerns, according to a study by Interio by Godrej.

The study, titled “Screens, Seating & Strain: Rethinking Student Health through Ergonomics”, surveyed 1,000 college students across India to examine the relationship between gadget use, prolonged sitting, classroom design and student health.

The findings show that more than 55 per cent of students continue to use conventional wooden desks and benches, while 61 per cent identify prolonged sitting as their primary cause of pain. Only 7 per cent recognise inadequate furniture support as a contributing factor.

The study also points to extended periods of sedentary behaviour. Around 65 per cent of students attend one-hour classes without breaks, while 15 per cent sit through sessions lasting two to four hours continuously. Students attend at least four lectures a day, spending more than six hours sitting in classrooms on average, according to the report.

Outside classrooms, 61.2 per cent of respondents said they study for seven to nine hours daily, while around 10 per cent spend more than 10 hours studying.

Digital device use emerged as another concern, with 74 per cent of students reporting symptoms of visual fatigue. The study notes that visual discomfort may lead students to move closer to screens, potentially aggravating neck strain. Meanwhile, 80 per cent expressed a desire to rearrange their learning spaces to accommodate different activities and postures.

Sameer Joshi, Senior Vice-President and Head of B2B Business at Interio by Godrej, said learning environments needed to adapt to changing study habits and growing screen use. He said ergonomics should become an integral part of educational spaces to support student comfort and concentration.

The white paper recommends modular chairs, height-adjustable and sit-stand desks, and alternative seating options. It also advocates posture awareness, movement breaks every 45 to 60 minutes and the 20-20-20 rule to help reduce eye strain.

The study underscores the need to address classroom design alongside students’ sitting habits and screen use, although its findings are based on the surveyed group.