Re-post: Accelerometer-based sedentary time and physical activity with incident and progressive tobacco smoking in 2503 children: A 13-year mediation and temporal longitudinal study
February 27, 2025
A new study entitled “Association between smartphone addiction and sedentary behaviour amongst children, adolescents and young adults: A Systematic Review and meta-analysis” was recently published in Journal of Psychiatric Research. A summary and citation is included below.
ABSTRACT
Background
The rapid proliferation of smartphones has raised concerns about their impact on physical activity levels, particularly among younger demographics. While smartphones offer numerous benefits, there is growing evidence to suggest that excessive use may lead to sedentary behaviours, potentially impacting physical health adversely. Hence, this review was done to explore the association between smartphone addiction and reduced physical activity amongst children, adolescents and young adults.Methods
This meta-analysis systematically reviewed ten studies involving 5195 participants. We employed a random-effects model with DerSimonian-Laird estimation for tau2 to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on geographical regions, risk of bias, and different measurement tools to assess the robustness and variability of the findings. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots, Egger’s test, and the trim-and-fill method.Results
The analysis revealed a significant association between smartphone addiction and reduced physical activity, with a pooled OR of 2.19 (95% CI: 1.34 to 3.57, p = 0.002). Notably, subgroup analyses demonstrated a stronger association in studies from the Middle-Eastern region (OR = 4.75; p = 0.026) and among studies employing alternative standardized scales (OR = 3.32; p = 0.044). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, and although potential publication bias was detected, it did not materially affect the overall estimates.Conclusions
Smartphone addiction is significantly linked with reduced physical activity among younger populations, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions and longitudinal studies to elucidate causal mechanisms. These findings highlight that mitigating excessive smartphone use may be a critical component in promoting active lifestyles.
CITATION
Nambirajan, M.K., et al. (2025). Association between smartphone addiction and sedentary behaviour amongst children, adolescents and young adults: A Systematic Review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 184, 128-139. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022395625001281
Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels
