TY - JOUR
T1 - Association of smartphone and internet addiction with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Pham, Phuong Thu Thi
AU - Thai, Truc Thanh
AU - Huynh, Ha Khanh Mai
AU - Nguyen, Linh Thuy Ngoc
AU - Nguyen, An Thu Thi
AU - Duong, Mai Huynh Thi
AU - Bui, Han Hy Thi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Background: Excessive use of smartphones and the Internet can lead to addiction and may increase the risk of developing mental disorders, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized the existing literature reporting the impact of smartphone and Internet addiction on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic search was performed on two databases, PubMed and EMBASE, following the PRISMA guidelines to identify articles conducted from December 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge. Studies were selected based on pre-defined criteria and assessed for quality before inclusion in the meta-analysis. The main effect estimate gathered from eligible studies was the odds ratio, which was computed using the random-effects model. Results: Our findings demonstrated significant associations between Internet addiction and depression (OR = 4.09, 95% CI [3.28, 5.09]), Internet addiction and anxiety (OR = 3.08, 95% CI [2.08, 4.57]), smartphone addiction and depression (OR = 3.82, 95% CI [3.31, 4.40]), and smartphone addiction and anxiety (OR = 4.81, 95% CI [3.81, 6.07]) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: This meta-analysis underscores that Internet and smartphone addiction increases the likelihood of developing mental disorders in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the outbreak of infectious diseases, it is imperative for nations to not only address economic and educational challenges but also prioritize the mental well-being of their citizens.
AB - Background: Excessive use of smartphones and the Internet can lead to addiction and may increase the risk of developing mental disorders, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized the existing literature reporting the impact of smartphone and Internet addiction on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic search was performed on two databases, PubMed and EMBASE, following the PRISMA guidelines to identify articles conducted from December 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge. Studies were selected based on pre-defined criteria and assessed for quality before inclusion in the meta-analysis. The main effect estimate gathered from eligible studies was the odds ratio, which was computed using the random-effects model. Results: Our findings demonstrated significant associations between Internet addiction and depression (OR = 4.09, 95% CI [3.28, 5.09]), Internet addiction and anxiety (OR = 3.08, 95% CI [2.08, 4.57]), smartphone addiction and depression (OR = 3.82, 95% CI [3.31, 4.40]), and smartphone addiction and anxiety (OR = 4.81, 95% CI [3.81, 6.07]) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: This meta-analysis underscores that Internet and smartphone addiction increases the likelihood of developing mental disorders in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the outbreak of infectious diseases, it is imperative for nations to not only address economic and educational challenges but also prioritize the mental well-being of their citizens.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Internet addiction
KW - mental health
KW - meta-analysis
KW - smartphone addiction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215135101&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/00207640241311856
DO - 10.1177/00207640241311856
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85215135101
SN - 0020-7640
VL - 71
SP - 642
EP - 654
JO - International Journal of Social Psychiatry
JF - International Journal of Social Psychiatry
IS - 4
ER -