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

• Main Authors: Shijie Liu, Tao Xiao, Lin Yang, Paul D. Loprinzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: exercise; tai chi; smartphone addiction; internet addiction
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/3912

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 = &#8722;1.30, 95% CI &#8722;1.53 to &#8722;1.07, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.005, <i>I</i>² = 62%) of smartphone addiction level and its four subscales (withdrawal symptom: <i>SMD</i> = &#8722;1.40, 95% CI &#8722;1.73 to &#8722;1.07, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 81%; highlight behavior: SMD = &#8722;1.95, 95% CI &#8722;2.99 to &#8722;1.66, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 79%; social comfort: SMD = &#8722;0.99, 95% CI &#8722;1.18 to &#8722;0.81, <i>p</i> = 0.27, <i>I</i>² = 21%; mood change: SMD = &#8722;0.50, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.69, <i>p</i> = 0.25, <i>I</i>² = 25%). Furthermore, we found that individuals with severe addiction level (SMD = &#8722;1.19, <i>I</i>² = 0%, 95%CI:&#8722;1.19 to &#8722;0.98) benefited more from exercise engagement, as compared to those with mild to moderate addiction levels (SMD = &#8722; 0.98, <i>I</i>² = 50%, 95%CI:&#8722;1.31 to &#8722;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 = &#8722;1.70, <i>I</i>² = 31.2%, 95% CI &#8722;2.04 to &#8722;1.36, <i>p</i> = 0.03), as compared to those who participated in less than 12 weeks of exercise intervention (SMD = &#8722;1.18, <i>I</i>² = 0%, 95% CI&#8722;1.35 to &#8722;1.02, <i>p</i> &lt; 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 = &#8722;1.22, <i>I</i>² = 0 %, 95% CI &#8722;1.41 to &#8722;1.02, <i>p</i> = 0.56), as compared to those who participated in exercise of open motor skills (SMD = &#8722;1.17, <i>I</i>² = 44%, 95% CI&#8722;1.47 to &#8722;0.0.87, <i>p</i> = 0.03). Conclusions: Exercise interventions may have positive effects on treating smartphone addiction and longer intervention durations may produce greater intervention effects.