Impact of digital addiction on youth health: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aims: Digital addiction among youth, characterized by excessive and compulsive use of digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and social media platforms, has become a global concern. The present study aimed to investigate the association between digital addiction subtypes in youth and various health outcomes using "digital addiction" as an umbrella term. Methods: We comprehensively reviewed articles reporting health outcomes related to digital addiction in youth from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using a targeted search strategy and assessed them using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Youth with digital addiction were more likely to be overweight or obese (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.03-1.48), reporting poor self-rated health (OR: 1.75, 95%CI: 1.42-2.08), and experience sleep problems such as insomnia (OR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.33-1.59) and poor sleep quality (OR: 1.50, 95%CI: 1.37-1.64). These individuals also demonstrated higher odds of mental health concerns, including suicidal tendencies (OR: 2.63, 95%CI: 2.36-2.90), symptoms of depression (OR: 1.76, 95%CI: 1.68-1.83), stress (OR: 2.15, 95%CI: 1.79-2.52), and anxiety (OR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.99-2.28). Furthermore, they were more prone to engage in smoking (OR: 1.55, 95%CI: 1.41-1.68), problematic alcohol consumption (OR: 1.47, 95%CI: 1.33-1.60), and drug use (OR: 1.94, 95%CI: 1.44-2.44). Conclusions: The present findings suggest that digital addiction among youth has a significant and wide range of detrimental health outcomes, including physical, mental, and behavioral issues.