Mobile Phone Addiction and Sleep Quality Among Children and Adolescents: Unraveling the Health Consequences.

Abstract

The pervasive use of mobile phones has emerged as a growing public health concern, particularly among children and adolescents, with increasing evidence linking excessive screen exposure to sleep disturbances. This study was conducted as a narrative review of the existing literature to examine the association between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality in children and adolescents aged five to 18 years. Relevant peer-reviewed articles were identified through electronic database searches, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies published in English that investigated mobile phone use, screen exposure, sleep parameters, circadian rhythm disruption, or related psychological outcomes in pediatric and adolescent populations were included. Studies focusing exclusively on adults, clinical sleep disorders unrelated to screen exposure, or non-human models were excluded. The review synthesizes findings related to physiological, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances. The reviewed evidence indicated that prolonged and inappropriate mobile phone use, particularly during evening and pre-bedtime hours, disrupts circadian rhythms primarily through blue light-induced suppression of melatonin, resulting in delayed sleep onset, reduced sleep duration, and impaired sleep quality. Psychological factors, including anxiety, hyperarousal, and fear of missing out (FOMO), further exacerbate sleep disturbances. Poor sleep quality among children and adolescents is consistently associated with adverse outcomes, including impaired cognitive performance, emotional dysregulation, weakened immune function, and increased risk of obesity. This review highlights mobile phone addiction as a significant modifiable risk factor for poor sleep quality in children and adolescents. The findings underscore the urgent need for multilevel interventions involving parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. Strategies such as structured screen time limits, digital literacy education, and promotion of healthy sleep hygiene and alternative recreational activities are essential to mitigate the negative impact of excessive mobile phone use on sleep and overall well-being in the digital age.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This narrative review reports that prolonged and inappropriate mobile phone use, especially in the evening/pre-bedtime period, is associated with circadian rhythm disruption (described as blue light–induced melatonin suppression) and with delayed sleep onset, reduced sleep duration, and impaired sleep quality in children and adolescents. The review also describes psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, hyperarousal, FOMO) as contributing to sleep disturbances and links poor sleep quality to multiple adverse health and functional outcomes.

Outcomes measured

• sleep quality
• sleep disturbances
• circadian rhythm disruption
• melatonin suppression (blue light-related)
• delayed sleep onset
• reduced sleep duration
• anxiety
• hyperarousal
• fear of missing out (FOMO)
• cognitive performance
• emotional dysregulation
• immune function
• obesity risk

Limitations

• Narrative review design (not a systematic review or meta-analysis)
• No quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract
• Search strategy details and study quality appraisal not described in the abstract

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "prolonged/inappropriate use, particularly during evening and pre-bedtime hours"
    },
    "population": "Children and adolescents aged 5–18 years",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "sleep quality",
        "sleep disturbances",
        "circadian rhythm disruption",
        "melatonin suppression (blue light-related)",
        "delayed sleep onset",
        "reduced sleep duration",
        "anxiety",
        "hyperarousal",
        "fear of missing out (FOMO)",
        "cognitive performance",
        "emotional dysregulation",
        "immune function",
        "obesity risk"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This narrative review reports that prolonged and inappropriate mobile phone use, especially in the evening/pre-bedtime period, is associated with circadian rhythm disruption (described as blue light–induced melatonin suppression) and with delayed sleep onset, reduced sleep duration, and impaired sleep quality in children and adolescents. The review also describes psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, hyperarousal, FOMO) as contributing to sleep disturbances and links poor sleep quality to multiple adverse health and functional outcomes.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Narrative review design (not a systematic review or meta-analysis)",
        "No quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract",
        "Search strategy details and study quality appraisal not described in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone addiction",
        "screen exposure",
        "children",
        "adolescents",
        "sleep quality",
        "circadian rhythm",
        "blue light",
        "melatonin",
        "FOMO",
        "sleep hygiene"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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