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Exercise as an Alternative Approach for Treating Smartphone Addiction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Random Controlled Trials

Author

Listed:
  • Shijie Liu

    (School of Physical Education and Sport Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Tao Xiao

    (College of Mathematics and Statistics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lin Yang

    (Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB T2S 3G3, Canada
    Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Cunning School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada)

  • Paul D. Loprinzi

    (Exercise & Memory Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA)

Abstract

Background: With the emergence of electronic products, smartphones have become an indispensable tool in our daily life. On the other hand, smartphone addiction has become a public health issue. To help reduce smartphone addiction, cost-effective interventions such as exercise are encouraged. Purpose: We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating existing literature on the rehabilitative effects of exercise interventions for individuals with a smartphone addiction. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, and Wanfang from inception to September 2019. Nine eligible randomized controlled trials (RCT) were finally included for meta-analysis (SMD represents the magnitude of effect of exercise) and their methodological quality were assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: We found significant positive effects of exercise interventions (Taichi, basketball, badminton, dance, run, and bicycle) on reducing the total score (SMD = −1.30, 95% CI −1.53 to −1.07, p < 0.005, I 2 = 62%) of smartphone addiction level and its four subscales (withdrawal symptom: SMD = −1.40, 95% CI −1.73 to −1.07, p < 0.001, I 2 = 81%; highlight behavior: SMD = −1.95, 95% CI −2.99 to −1.66, p < 0.001, I 2 = 79%; social comfort: SMD = −0.99, 95% CI −1.18 to −0.81, p = 0.27, I 2 = 21%; mood change: SMD = −0.50, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.69, p = 0.25, I 2 = 25%). Furthermore, we found that individuals with severe addiction level (SMD = −1.19, I 2 = 0%, 95%CI:−1.19 to −0.98) benefited more from exercise engagement, as compared to those with mild to moderate addiction levels (SMD = − 0.98, I 2 = 50%, 95%CI:−1.31 to −0.66); individuals with smartphone addiction who participated in exercise programs of 12 weeks and above showed significantly greater reduction on the total score (SMD = −1.70, I 2 = 31.2%, 95% CI −2.04 to −1.36, p = 0.03), as compared to those who participated in less than 12 weeks of exercise intervention (SMD = −1.18, I 2 = 0%, 95% CI−1.35 to −1.02, p < 0.00001). In addition, individuals with smartphone addiction who participated in exercise of closed motor skills showed significantly greater reduction on the total score (SMD = −1.22, I 2 = 0 %, 95% CI −1.41 to −1.02, p = 0.56), as compared to those who participated in exercise of open motor skills (SMD = −1.17, I 2 = 44%, 95% CI−1.47 to −0.0.87, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Exercise interventions may have positive effects on treating smartphone addiction and longer intervention durations may produce greater intervention effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Shijie Liu & Tao Xiao & Lin Yang & Paul D. Loprinzi, 2019. "Exercise as an Alternative Approach for Treating Smartphone Addiction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Random Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3912-:d:276612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Liye Zou & Yangjie Zhang & Jeffer Eidi Sasaki & Albert S. Yeung & Lin Yang & Paul D. Loprinzi & Jian Sun & Shijie Liu & Jane Jie Yu & Shengyan Sun & Yuqiang Mai, 2019. "Wuqinxi Qigong as an Alternative Exercise for Improving Risk Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongxing Chen & Guodong Zhang & Zhenhuan Wang & Siyuan Feng & Hansen Li, 2022. "The Associations between Daytime Physical Activity, While-in-Bed Smartphone Use, Sleep Delay, and Sleep Quality: A 24-h Investigation among Chinese College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Xing Zhang & Siyuan Feng & Rui Peng & Hansen Li, 2022. "Using Structural Equation Modeling to Examine Pathways between Physical Activity and Sleep Quality among Chinese TikTok Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Yansong Li & Qilong Sun & Mingzhe Sun & Peishuai Sun & Qihui Sun & Xue Xia, 2021. "Physical Exercise and Psychological Distress: The Mediating Roles of Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Learning Burnout among Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Zhiqiang Ren & Jianyi Tan & Baoying Huang & Jinqun Cheng & Yanhong Huang & Peng Xu & Xuanbi Fang & Hongjuan Li & Dongmei Zhang & Yanhui Gao, 2022. "Association between 24-Hour Movement Behaviors and Smartphone Addiction among Adolescents in Foshan City, Southern China: Compositional Data Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Dong-Hyun Choi & Young-Su Jung, 2022. "Temperament, Character and Cognitive Emotional Regulation in the Latent Profile Classification of Smartphone Addiction in University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.

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