Effects of Excessive Mobile Phone Use on Physical and Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The smartphone has transitioned from a communication instrument into an inescapable mediator of daily life, and the consequent health burden of excessive use is now receiving serious scholarly and public health attention. Evidence on physical and psychological sequelae has accumulated rapidly but remains dispersed across heterogeneous study designs and populations. Objective: To systematically review and synthesise peer-reviewed evidence on the physical and mental health effects of excessive mobile phone use across adolescent, student, and working-adult populations, with attention to vulnerable subgroups including nurses, and to appraise the available evidence on digital-wellness interventions. Methods: A PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar (January 2019–June 2026). Studies were eligible if they involved human participants with quantifiable outcomes relating to physical or mental health effects of excessive smartphone use or tested a smartphone-reduction intervention. Title/abstract and full-text screening were conducted independently. Quality was appraised using validated tools stratified by study design. Results: Thirty-four studies met inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis identified four domains: (i) musculoskeletal and sensory consequences; (ii) sleep disruption; (iii) psychiatric and cognitive outcomes; and (iv) prevention and intervention evidence. Consistent associations were identified between excessive use and text neck syndrome, digital eye strain, sleep-onset delay, anxiety, depression, nomophobia, and attention decrements. Adolescents, university students, and shift-working nurses emerged as particularly vulnerable groups. Structured digital detox programmes and screen-time behavioural interventions demonstrated measurable benefit. Conclusion: Excessive smartphone use is associated with a broad and clinically meaningful spectrum of adverse health outcomes. Nurses and educators occupy a strategic position to lead screening, counselling, and the design of evidence-informed digital wellness programmes within healthcare and educational settings.