Association of smartphone and internet addiction with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pham, Phuong Thu Thi
Thai, Truc Thanh
Huynh, Ha Khanh Mai
Nguyen, Linh Thuy Ngoc
Nguyen, An Thu Thi
Duong, Mai Huynh Thi
Bui, Han Hy Thi

¹Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
²School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW, Australia
³Clinical Research Center, Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Truc Thanh Thai, Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City 751340, Vietnam. Email: [email protected]

* These authors should be considered co-first authors.

International Journal of Social Psychiatry 71(4):p 642-654, June 2025. | DOI: 10.1177/00207640241311856

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.