Journal of medical Internet research
Association of Screen Time With Physical and Mental Health in University Students: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
By Wu G, Eades C and Hoyle L.
Abstract
Background
Screen use is almost universal, and numerous studies have highlighted both the benefits and the risks of this digital integration. However, evidence on the association between screen time and health outcomes among university students remains inconsistent. Substantial methodological variation has limited the synthesis and interpretation of existing findings.
Objective
This study aimed to (1) quantify the associations between screen time and health outcomes as primary analysis; (2) quantify the association between screen time and physical (sleep quality, eye health, weight-related) and mental health outcomes (depression, psychological distress/stress, combined mental health, and well-being); and (3) identify study-level characteristics that explain between-study heterogeneity by using subgroup and meta-regression analyses.