Physical And Psychological Health Correlates Of Excessive Smartphone Usage: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i1.264Keywords:
Smartphone Usage, Adolescent, Physical health, Psychological healthAbstract
Modern life is characterized by the ubiquitous use of smartphones, which offer unprecedented connectivity and convenience. However, research shows that excessive smartphone usage can adversely affect a variety of aspects of an individual's well-being. Smartphones, although designed to foster communication, can inadvertently lead to social isolation, loneliness, and a decline in face-to-face interactions, ultimately undermining the quality of human connections, which in turn affect personal growth. The current systematic review study critically analyzed 40 cross-sectional studies published between 2016 and 2024, examining the physical and psychological factors associated with excessive smartphone usage among individuals aged 18 years and above. Data were sourced from PubMed and Scopus using predefined keywords, and studies were appraised using the JBI checklist. The findings revealed moderate to high methodological quality across studies, with consistent use of validated tools to assess smartphone addiction and related health outcomes.
Studies indicate that excessive engagement with smartphones is closely linked to elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Additionally, excessive smartphone usage may lead to sleep disturbances, physical ailments, such as muscular strains and fatigue. The results of the study emphasizes the need to implement public health policies and regulatory frameworks to guide the use of smartphones in schools and workplaces, and to raise awareness about the psychological and physical risks associated with their misuse. It is crucial for enhancing individual and collective well-being particularly among younger populations. It is imperative that healthy digital habits are promoted and that technology is used for positive connections rather than for harm.
References
1. Alavi, S. S., et al. (2020). The role of psychopathology in smartphone addiction: A cross-sectional study. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 15(3), 183–190.
2. Al-Hadidi F, Bsisu I, AlRyalat SA, Al-Zu'bi B, Bsisu R, Hamdan M, Kanaan T, Yasin M, Samarah O. Association between mobile phone use and neck pain in university students: A cross-sectional study using numeric rating scale for evaluation of neck pain. PLoS One. 2019 May 20;14(5):e0217231. doi: 10.1371.
3. Alhassan et al. The relationship between addiction to smartphone usage and depression among adults: a cross sectional studyBMC Psychiatry (2018) 18:148, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1745-4.
4. Alkhateeb A, Alboali R, Alharbi W, Saleh O. (2020) martphone addiction and its complications related to health and daily activities among university students in Saudi Arabia: A multicenter study. J Family Med Prim Care ;9:3220-4.
5. Alshahrani, A., Abdrabo, M. S., Aly, S. M., Alshahrani, M. S., Alqhtani, R. S., Asiri, F., & Ahmad, I. (2021). Effect of smartphone usage on neck muscle endurance, hand grip, and pinch strength among healthy college students: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6290. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126290
6. Awasthi S, Kaur A, Solanki HK, Pamei G, Bhatt M. Smartphone use and the quality of life of medical students in the Kumaun Region, Uttarakhand. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Aug 25;9(8):4252-4258. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_805_20.
7. Baabdullah A, Bokhary D, Kabli Y, Saggaf O, Daiwali M, Hamdi A. The association between smartphone addiction and thumb/wrist pain: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Mar;99(10):e19124. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019124.
8. Bertozzi, L., Negrini, S., Agosto, D., Costi, S., Guccione, A. A., & Lucarelli, P. (2021). Posture and time spent using a smartphone are not correlated with neck pain and disability in young adults: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 26, 220–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.09.006.
9. Boumosleh, J. M., & Jaalouk, D. (2017). Depression, anxiety, and smartphone addiction in university students: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 12(8), e0182239.
10. Cerutti, R., Presaghi, F., Spensieri, V., Valastro, C., & Guidetti, V. (2016). The potential impact of internet and mobile use on headache and other somatic symptoms in adolescence: A population-based cross-sectional study. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 56(7), 1161–1170. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.12840
11. Chen, B., Liu, F., Ding, S., Ying, X., Wang, L., & Wen, Y. (2017). Gender differences in factors associated with smartphone addiction: A cross-sectional study among medical college students. BMC Psychiatry, 17, 341. DOI 10.1186/s12888-017-1503-z.
12. Chongchitpaisan, W., Wiwatanadate, P., Tanprawate, S., Narkpongphan, A., & Siripon, N. (2021). Trigger of a migraine headache among Thai adolescents smartphone users: A time series study. Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology, 36(1).
13. Çobanoğlu A, Bahadir-Yilmaz E, Kiziltan B. The relationship between nursing students' digital and smartphone addiction levels and nomophobia: A descriptive, correlational study. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2021 Oct;57(4):1727-1734. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12742.
14. Daei A, Ashrafi‑rizi H, Soleymani MR. Nomophobia and health hazards: Smartphone use and addiction among university students. Int J Prev Med, 2019;10:202.
15. Elhai, J. D., Dvorak, R. D., Levine, J. C., & Hall, B. J. (2017). Problematic smartphone use: A conceptual overview and systematic review of relations with anxiety and depression psychopathology. Journal of Affective Disorders, 207, 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.030
16. Foltran-Mescollotto, F., Gonçalves, É. B., de Castro-Carletti, E. M., Oliveira, A. B., Pelai, E. B., & Rodrigues-Bigaton, D. (2021). Smartphone addiction and the relationship with head and neck pain and electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles. Work, 68(3), 633–640. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-203398
17. Grimaldi-Puyana, M., Fernández-Batanero, J. M., Fennell, C., & Sañudo, B. (2020). Associations of objectively-assessed smartphone use with physical activity, sedentary behavior, mood, and sleep quality in young adults: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(10).
18. Gundogmuş, H., et al. (2021). The relationship between smartphone addiction and alexithymia in adults. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi, 22(2), 165–172.
19. Hanphitakphong, P., Keeratisiroj, O., & Thawinchai, N. (2021). Smartphone addiction and its association with upper body musculoskeletal symptoms among university students classified by age and gender. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 33(5), 394–400. doi: 10.1589/jpts.33.394.
20. Huang Q, Li Y, Huang S, Qi J, Shao T, Chen X, Liao Z, Lin S, Zhang X, Cai Y and Chen H (2020) Smartphone Use and Sleep Quality in Chinese College Students: A Preliminary Study. Front. Psychiatry 11:352. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00352
21. Ibrahim, N. K., et al. (2018). Impact of smartphone addiction on academic performance and sleep quality among medical students. Journal of Substance Use, 23(5), 537–543.
22. İnal Ö, Serel Arslan S. Investigating the effect of smartphone addiction on musculoskeletal system problems and cognitive flexibility in university students. Work. 2021;68(1):107-113. doi: 10.3233/WOR-203361
23. Ivanova, A. M., et al. (2020). Phubbing and smartphone addiction: Correlations in young adults. Addictive Behaviors, 105, 106328.
24. Kalirathinam, D., Manoharlal, M. A., Mei, C. L., Ling, C. K., Sheng, T. W. Y., Jerome, A., & Rao, M. U. S. (2017). Association between the usage of smartphone as the risk factor for the prevalence of upper extremity and neck symptoms among university students: A cross-sectional survey-based study. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 10(4), 1184–1190. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-360X.2017.00213.X
25. Khan A, McLeod G, Hidajat T, Edwards EJ. Excessive Smartphone Use is Associated with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Sleep Quality of Australian Adults. J Med Syst. 2023 Oct 20;47(1):109. doi: 10.1007/s10916-023-02005-3.
26. Kil, N., Kim, J., McDaniel, J. T., Kim, J., & Kensinger, K. (2021). Examining associations between smartphone use, smartphone addiction, and mental health outcomes: A cross-sectional study of college students. Health Promotion Perspectives, 11(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.2021.06
27. Kumar, V.A, Chandrasekaran, V., Brahadeeswari, H. (2019). Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its effects on sleep quality: A cross-sectional study among medical students. Ind Psychiatry J.;28:82-5.
28. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311
29. Liu et al. (2022). Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its effects on subhealth and insomnia: a cross‑sectional study among medical students. BMC Psychiatry 22:305. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03956-6.
30. McCrann, S., Loughman, J., Butler, J. S., Paudel, N., & Flitcroft, D. I. (2021). Smartphone use as a possible risk factor for myopia. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 104(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/cxo.13092
31. Meng, Jia & Wang, Fang & Chen, Rentong & Hua, Hui & Yang, Qian & Yang, Dan & Wang, Nan & Li, Xin & Ma, Fangfang & Huang, Liting & Zou, Zhenzhen & Li, Menglin & Wang, Tieting & Luo, Yannan & Li, Yunda & Liu, Yang. (2021). Association between the pattern of mobile phone use and sleep quality in Northeast China college students. Sleep and Breathing. 25. 10.1007/s11325-021-02295-2.
32. Montagni, I., Guichard, E., Carpenet, C., Tzourio, C., & Kurth, T. (2016). Screen time exposure and reporting of headaches in young adults: A cross-sectional study. Cephalalgia, 36(11), 1020–1027. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102415620286
33. Mustafaoglu, R., et al. (2021). Smartphone addiction and its association with musculoskeletal pain in youth. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 34(2), 213–220.
34. Myint, W. W., Saimon, R., Abdul Majid, N. N. N., Saripuddin, M. B., & Rajan, R. (2021). The relationship between usage of digital devices and musculoskeletal symptoms: A cross-sectional study among university students in Sarawak. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 17(9), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v17i09.24605.
35. Nishida, Tomoko & Tamura, Haruka & Sakakibara, Hisataka. (2019). The Association of Smartphone Use and Depression in Japanese Adolescents. Psychiatry Research. 273. 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.074.
36. ÖZALP, Muhammet. (2024). Effect of Smartphone Addiction on Hand Disorder, Eye Health, Fatıgue and Cognitive Failures. 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4952539/v1.
37. Pan, W., Chen, X., Ji, F., Chen, M., & Lu, J. (2021). Correlation between mobile phone addiction tendency and its related risk factors among Chinese college students: A cross-sectional study. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 20(8), 1729–1737. https://doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v20i8.26
38. Ranjbaran, M., Soleimani, B., Mohammadi, M., Ghorbani, N., Khodadost, M., & Mansori, K. (2019). Association between general health and mobile phone dependency among medical university students: A cross-sectional study in Iran. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 10, 126.
39. Sanusi, Sarliza & Al-Batayneh, Ola & Khader, Yousef & Saddki, Norkhafizah. (2021). The association of smartphone addiction, sleep quality and perceived stress among Jordanian dental students. European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe. 26. 10.1111/eje.12674.
40. Selçuk, K.T., Ayhan, D. (2020). The relationship between smartphone addiction risk and sleep duration and psychosocial comorbidities in health professional candidates. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 56(3):541-546. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12465. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31859383.
41. Shoval, D., Tal, N., Tzischinsky O. Relationship of smartphone use at night with sleep quality and psychological well-being among healthy students: A pilot study. Sleep Health. 2020 Aug;6(4):495-497. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2020.01.011.
42. Szeto, G. P. Y., Tsang, S. M. H., Dai, J., & Madeleine, P. (2020). A field study on spinal postures and postural variations during smartphone use among university students. Applied Ergonomics, 88, 103183. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103183.
43. Xie, H., Tao, S., Zhang, Y., Tao, F., & Wu, X. (2019). Impact of problematic mobile phone use and insufficient physical activity on depression symptoms: a college-based follow-up study. BMC Public Health, 19, 1640. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7873-z
44. Zhang, M., Zhou, Z., Tao, X., Huang, L., Zhu, E., Yu, L., & Liu, H. (2022). Prevalence of subhealth status and its effects on mental health and smartphone addiction: A cross-sectional study among Chinese medical students. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 68(2), 222–226. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.202110011
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License permitting all use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
