Factors associated with mental health among high school students in Iran: Does mobile phone overuse associate with poor mental health?

Trends and Influencing Factors in Problematic Smartphone Use Prevalence (2012-2022): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Given that problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been researched for a long time, it becomes necessary to assess how the trends of PSU prevalence have evolved over time. In total, 106 articles from 2012 to 2022 with 109 studies covering 97,748 individuals were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimation of the global pooled PSU prevalence was 37.1% (95% confidence interval, 33.5 - 40.8%) and the PSU prevalence is growing over time in total. Although the PSU prevalence exhibited wide variation between regions and measurement scales, the increasing trend remained. In addition, the regression slope of the PSU prevalence trend in males was higher than that in females. Males initially had a lower prevalence of PSU than females, but this steadily changed over time until it was greater in males than in females. Moreover, the prevalence of PSU showed an increasing trend across all age groups, with a faster growth rate in the older age group. Considering the aforementioned results, it's necessary to implement proper interventions to do with this phenomenon. In addition, considering the differences in prevalence brought by regions, and measurement scales, in practice and research, we should not only take into account the disparities of PSU between countries or cultures, but also to concern about establishing unified standard and measurement tools to confirm it.

Mobile phone addiction and mental health: the roles of sleep quality and perceived social support

As a global phenomenon, mobile phone addiction has become an increasingly common issue among Chinese university students. Although previous research explored the link between mobile phone addiction and mental health, the possible mechanism underlying the above association is unclear. We administered a cross-sectional survey to 585 participants from two universities in Kunming, southwest China, from October 2021 to January 2022. Our results suggested that mobile phone addiction was negatively associated with mental health, and sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between mobile phone addiction and mental health. Furthermore, perceived social support positively moderated the direct effect of sleep quality on mental health, as well as the indirect effect of mobile phone addiction on mental health. These findings provide a new insight into the underlying mechanism by which mobile phone addiction affects university students' mental health. The results emphasize a necessary task for administrators, health workers, and family members to attach importance to the overuse of mobile phones among university students.

Association between Problematic Use of Smartphones and Mental Health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Systematic Review

Smartphones have become essential components of daily life, and research into the harmful effects of problematic smartphone use (PSU) on mental health is expanding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This issue has yet to be synthesized and critically evaluated. To find quantitative observational studies on the relationship between PSU and mental health in the MENA region, we developed a search equation and adapted it for four databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed during the selection process. This review included 32 cross-sectional studies and one cohort study. The available language was English. All identified studies published until 8 October 2021, were considered. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The studies enrolled 21,487 people and had low-to-moderate methodological quality. The prevalence of PSU ranged from 4.3 to 97.8 percent. The time factor, type of application used on the smartphone, and sociodemographic characteristics were the determinants of PSU. Depression, anxiety, and stress were strongly correlated with PSU. Epidemiological longitudinal studies that respect the quality of evidence are needed in all MENA countries to better plan and implement preventive measures against PSU.

A Systematic Review of Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Smartphone Addiction in Students: Applicability During the COVID-19 Pandemic

"During this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, smartphones play an important role in online classes, study, and entertainment. However, excessive use may lead to smartphone addiction (SPA). The incidence of SPA among students has increased with the spread of COVID-19 and threatens to impair home-based students’ learning efficiency and physical and mental health. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest achievements in SPA prevention and treatment, and a theoretical basis for future experimental research and clinical treatment, while considering their applicability during the current pandemic. We researched the core literature in Chinese, English, and Korean databases from 2000 to 2021; 3208 articles were identified. After reading the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 53 articles were selected. Research on SPA interventions was relatively limited; we identified six types of prevention and treatment measures: psychotherapies, cognitive training, behavioral intervention, application restriction, social intervention, and complementary and alternative medicine. They can be implemented by students, parents, or online experts. Future research should focus on developing early measures to identify and prevent SPA and enhance students’ change motivation."

The moderating effect of physical activity in the relation between problematic mobile phone use and depression among university students

AIM

To examine the moderating effect of physical activity (PA) between problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and depression in university students.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 4624 students (55.5% females and 44.5% males) aged 17-25 years old (M=19.91, SD=1.27). Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were applied to evaluate the state of depression in all participants. The data of PMPU and PA were collected by standardized questionnaires named Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use (SQAPMPU) and International physical activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were applied to examine the associations of PMPU and depression, as well as the moderating effects of PA.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PMPU and depression were 27.5%, 6.1% (PHQ-9 at clinical level) and 25.1% (CES-D≥20), respectively. The relationships between PMPU and depression have been shown in our study. The rates of depression were higher among students with PMPU or low PA. Hierarchical analysis indicated that moderate or high PA was related to a greater decrease in the risk of depression for students with PMPU.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that PA moderates the association between PMPU and depression. Future researches with longitudinal design are warranted. The intervention programs of depression should consider individuals' health behaviors.