Association of smartphone and internet addiction with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This article systematically reviews and meta-analyzes the association between smartphone and Internet addiction and mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that individuals with Internet addiction were approximately four times more likely to experience depression and three times more likely to experience anxiety, while those with smartphone addiction had nearly four times higher odds of depression and almost five times higher odds of anxiety. The analysis included 24 cross-sectional studies with diverse populations, primarily students, and highlighted significant heterogeneity among studies. The authors emphasize the bidirectional relationship between addiction to digital technologies and mental health disorders and recommend prioritizing mental health interventions, including remote screening and counseling services, during and after the pandemic.