The Impact of Smartphone Addiction on Adolescents' Quality of Life: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The pervasive use of smartphones among students has led to growing concerns about smartphone addiction and its potential negative impact on adolescents' quality of life (QoL). This systematic review aims to synthesize existing research on the relationship between smartphone addiction and various dimensions of QoL, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and well-being among students.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases to identify relevant studies published between January 2010 and August 2024. Inclusion criteria were original research articles that specifically assessed smartphone addiction and its impact on students' QoL. After screening and eligibility assessment, 12 studies with a total of 7130 participants were included in the review.

Results: The majority of studies reviewed reported a significant negative association between smartphone addiction and overall QoL, particularly in domains related to physical health, psychological well-being, and social relationships. Students with higher levels of smartphone addiction tended to experience poorer HRQoL and lower well-being. In addition, lower QoL was found to predict higher levels of smartphone addiction in some studies, suggesting a potential cyclical relationship. However, some studies presented inconsistent findings, which could be attributed to differences in populations, cultural contexts, and measurement tools.

Conclusions: The findings of this review highlight the detrimental impact of smartphone addiction on adolescents' QoL, HRQoL, and well-being. These results emphasize the need for interventions aimed at promoting healthier smartphone use among students. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causality and further explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between smartphone addiction and quality of life.