Ndayambaje Egide, Okereke Promise Udohchukwu
University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Kigali Rwanda.
Research Department OLGnova Kigali Rwanda.
Health Sci Rep. 2025 May 22;8(5):e70843. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70843. eCollection 2025 May.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has emerged as a growing public health concern, with increasing evidence linking it to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. While smartphones offer numerous benefits, excessive use can contribute to cognitive overload, emotional distress, and behavioral addiction. This review aims to explore the burden of PSU, its psychological and neurobiological mediating factors, and potential prevention and intervention strategies.
A narrative literature review was conducted using relevant studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Articles were selected based on their relevance to PSU and its associations with mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Both theoretical and empirical studies were included to provide a broad perspective on the topic.
Findings indicate that PSU is associated with increased stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disruptions. The mechanisms underlying these associations include dopaminergic dysregulation, social comparison, Fear of Missing Out, cognitive overload, and poor sleep hygiene. Various interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, digital detox programs, and smartphone usage tracking applications, have been proposed to mitigate the negative impact of PSU.
PSU is a significant risk factor for mental health disturbances, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Addressing PSU requires a multi-faceted approach involving behavioral interventions, public awareness initiatives, and policy regulations. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of existing interventions and to develop tailored strategies for reducing smartphone overuse and its psychological consequences.
问题性智能手机使用（PSU）已成为一个日益严重的公共卫生问题，越来越多的证据将其与焦虑、抑郁和睡眠障碍等心理健康问题联系起来。虽然智能手机带来诸多益处，但过度使用会导致认知过载、情绪困扰和行为成瘾。本综述旨在探讨PSU的负担、其心理和神经生物学介导因素以及潜在的预防和干预策略。
使用来自PubMed、Scopus和谷歌学术的相关研究进行叙述性文献综述。根据文章与PSU及其与心理健康状况（包括抑郁、焦虑和失眠）的关联来选择文章。纳入理论和实证研究以提供该主题的广泛视角。
研究结果表明，PSU与压力增加、焦虑、抑郁和睡眠中断有关。这些关联背后的机制包括多巴胺能失调、社会比较、错失恐惧、认知过载和不良睡眠卫生习惯。已提出各种干预措施，如认知行为疗法、数字排毒计划和智能手机使用跟踪应用程序，以减轻PSU的负面影响。
PSU是心理健康障碍的一个重要风险因素，尤其是在青少年和年轻人中。解决PSU需要多方面的方法，包括行为干预、公众意识倡议和政策法规。需要进一步研究来评估现有干预措施的长期有效性，并制定针对性策略以减少智能手机过度使用及其心理后果。
