A scoping review explored the broad evidence around smartphones contributing to the mental health crisis among college students, particularly focusing on the association between smartphone use and mental health aspects like anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep. The methodology followed PRISMA-P 2015 guidelines, involving searches in major databases and a rigorous selection process to identify relevant studies. The review included 31 articles, with most examining the relationship between smartphone use and anxiety or depression. Various instruments were used to measure problematic smartphone use, with the Kwon et al. Smartphone Addiction Scale and its short version (SAS-SV) being the most common.

The researchers found consistent associations between smartphone use and mental health issues, with anxiety being the most prominently linked parameter. Depression showed mixed results, possibly due to differences in measurement. Despite the findings, methodological concerns in the reviewed studies, such as reliance on self-reported data and cross-sectional nature, make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the impact of smartphones on mental health.

Reference: Cain J, Kelley JL, Malcom D. A Scoping Review of the Association between Smartphone Use and Mental Health among College Students. Int J Depress Anxiety. 2020;3:022. doi.org/10.23937/2643-4059/1710022