Excessive screen use in university students: health effects and didactic strategies
Palabras clave:
Screen Time; Smartphone; Students; Sedentary Behavior; Health PromotionResumen
Introduction: Screens accompany university students in studying, communication, and leisure, but their excessive use can affect health and learning.
Objective: To synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effects of excessive screen use on the health of university students and to identify preventive strategies applicable from teaching.
Methods: Umbrella review guided by PRISMA 2020 and PRIOR. It was not registered in PROSPERO because it was an exploratory, unfunded synthesis with an unpublished internal protocol and a dual objective; this is justified in Methods. PubMed/MEDLINE and LILACS were consulted (2021–2026). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the university population were included. Selection and extraction were performed by one reviewer. No formal critical appraisal tool was applied; this is acknowledged as a limitation.
Results: Of 39 records, 25 reviews were included: 17 on health effects and 8 on interventions. Screen time was associated with a higher risk of depression (OR=1.93) and digital eye strain (OR=1.96), with a marked increase above 2.5 hours per day. Computer vision syndrome affected 76.1% of participants, and excessive phone use doubled the risk of neck pain. Active breaks in class reduced sedentary behavior and fatigue and improved attention; digital interventions increased step counts but did not reduce sedentary time.
Conclusions: Excessive screen use is associated with mental, visual, musculoskeletal, and sleep health problems. The classroom is a prevention space; active breaks, visual breaks, agreed usage rules, and sleep protection are viable strategies for teachers. Certainty is limited by the predominance of cross-sectional studies and self-report.
Descargas
Citas
1. Al-Mamun F, Mamun MA, Kaggwa MM, Mubarak M, Hossain MS, ALmerab MM, et al. The prevalence of nomophobia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2025;349:116521. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116521
2. Martínez-Hernández NL, de León-Ramírez LL, Profet-Naranjo A. Nivel de nomofobia en universitarios cubanos. Rev Progaleno [Internet]. 2023 [cited 18/07/2026];6(1):e407. Available in: https://revprogaleno.sld.cu/index.php/progaleno/article/download/407/280
3. Riverón Nápoles D, Suz Pompa MA, Valdés Utrera JR, Valle Ramírez RA, Díaz Guerra D, Hernández Lugo MC. Dependencia a los dispositivos móviles: revisión sistemática en Latinoamérica y Cuba durante la última década. EDUMECENTRO [Internet]. 2023 [cited 18/07/2026];15:e2531. Available in: https://revedumecentro.sld.cu/index.php/edumc/article/download/e2531/pdf
4. Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54:1451-62. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
5. Curi-Mendoza R, Reytor-Curi N. Uso de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones por estudiantes de las ciencias médicas. Medisur [Internet]. 2024 [cited 18/07/2026];22(2). Available in: https://medisur.sld.cu/index.php/medisur/article/view/45135
6. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372: n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj. n71
7. Zhong Y, Ma H, Liang YF, Liao CJ, Zhang CC, Jiang WJ. Prevalence of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students: a meta-analysis of multinational observational studies. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2022;68(6):1171-83. doi: 10.1177/00207640221089535
8. Zeng Z, Shi Z, Hou S, Yan J, Yang R, Li X. Comprehensive effects, and dose-response relationship of screen exposure on university students' physical and mental health and academic performance in the digital age: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2026;26(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-27025-9
9. Ccami-Bernal F, Soriano-Moreno DR, Romero-Robles MA, Barriga-Chambi F, Tuco KG, Castro-Diaz SD, et al. Prevalence of computer vision syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Optom. 2024;17(1):100482. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2023.100482
10. Song F, Liu Y, Zhao Z, Shang X, Wang Y, Lai M, et al. Clinical manifestations, prevalence, and risk factors of asthenopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2026; 16:04053. doi: 10.7189/jogh.16.04053
11. Mazaheri-Tehrani S, Arefian M, Abhari AP, Riahi R, Vahdatpour B, Baradaran Mahdavi S, et al. Sedentary behavior and neck pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Med. 2023; 175:107711. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107711
12. Varmazyar S. Smartphone use and related factors with hand pain among university students: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2026;27(1). doi: 10.1186/s12891-026-09702-3
13. Leow MQH, Chiang J, Chua TJX, Wang S, Tan NC. The relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep among medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023;18(9): e0290724. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290724
14. Gao W, Li Z, Li M. Joint physical activity and screen time patterns in relation to mental health and sleep among university students: a systematic review with exploratory quantitative synthesis. J Affect Disord. 2026; 408:121890. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121890
15. Gao XL, Zhang JH, Yang Y, Cao ZB. [Sedentary behavior, screen time and mental health of college students: a meta-analysis]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2023;44(3):477-85. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20220728-00669
16. Tang S, Chen R, Ma Z, Li X, Chen J, Zhao J. Associations of problematic smartphone use with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in university students before and after the COVID-19 outbreak: a meta-analysis. Addict Behav. 2024; 152:107969. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.107969
17. Li Y, Li J, Song Y, Cui L, Zhan J, Sun X, et al. Association between smartphone addiction, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt: a systematic review. PeerJ. 2026;14:e21386. doi: 10.7717/peerj.21386
18. Hsieh CY. The impact of smartphone usage frequency on university students' academic performance: a meta-analysis of moderating factors. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025; 259:105374. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105374
19. Babaeer L, Stylianou M, Leveritt M, Gomersall S. Physical activity, sedentary behavior and educational outcomes in university students: a systematic review. J Am Coll Health. 2022;70(7):2184-209. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1846047
20. Whatnall M, Ashton L, Patterson A, Smith J, Duncan M, Burrows T, et al. Are health behaviors associated with academic performance among tertiary education students? A systematic review of cohort studies. J Am Coll Health. 2024;72(3):957-69. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2063024
21. Hutchesson M, Whatnall M, Fenton S, Ashton L, Patterson A, Smith J, et al. Are health behaviors associated with mental health among tertiary education students? A systematic review of cohort studies. J Am Coll Health. 2025;73(1):111-23. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2201865
22. Lynch J, O'Donoghue G, Peiris CL. Classroom movement breaks and physically active learning are feasible, reduce sedentary behaviour and fatigue, and may increase focus in university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(13):7775. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19137775
23. Deng Q, Wu C, Yang L. Effect of classroom physical activity breaks on learning behaviors and academic achievements in university students: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2026;23(1). doi: 10.1186/s12966-026-01936-7
24. Zhou Q, Jiang J, Yin Z, Fan R. Effect of digital health interventions on college students' lifestyle behaviors: systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2026;28: e82192. doi: 10.2196/82192
25. Bi S, Yuan J, Wang Y, Zhang W, Zhang L, Zhang Y, et al. Effectiveness of digital health interventions in promoting physical activity among college students: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2024;26: e51714. doi: 10.2196/51714
26. Peng S, Yuan F, Othman AT, Zhou X, Shen G, Liang J. The effectiveness of e-health interventions promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):318. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010318
27. Buja A, Lo Bue R, Mariotti F, Miatton A, Zampieri C, Leone G. Promotion of physical activity among university students with social media or text messaging: a systematic review. Inquiry. 2024; 61:469580241248131. doi: 10.1177/00469580241248131
28. Liu H, Soh KG, Samsudin S, Rattanakoses W, Qi F. Effects of exercise and psychological interventions on smartphone addiction among university students: a systematic review. Front Psychol. 2022; 13:1021285. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1021285
29. Streram S, Burrows T, Duncan MJ, Hutchesson M. Health behaviour interventions to improve mental health outcomes for students in the university setting: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2025;22(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01718-7
30. Brar S, King N, Park A, Kyone K, Dephoure E, Rivera D, et al. Recreational screen time at university entry and mental health and well-being over first year: U-Flourish student well-being research. Can J Psychiatry. 2026. doi: 10.1177/07067437261428821
31. Rajput L, Bhardwaj A, Vempaty S, Spaić D, Milinković B, Bokonjić D, et al. Screen time and its impact on university students. Biomedicinska istraživanja [Internet]. 2026 [cited 18/07/2026]. Available in: https://biomedicinskaistrazivanja.mef.ues.rs.ba/article/618
32. Ortiz-Toquero S, Sánchez-Pavón I, Serrano-Mirones A, Martín-Herranz R. Prevalence of computer vision syndrome and its risk factors in a Spanish university population. Eye Contact Lens. 2024;50(8):333-41. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001105
33. Chen YJ, Hu CY, Wu WT, Lee RP, Peng CH, Yao TK, et al. Association of smartphone overuse and neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Postgrad Med J. 2025;101(1197):620-6. doi: 10.1093/postmj/qgae200
34. Nyanasegram T, Hidrus A, Omar A, Jeffree MS, Salvaraji L, Saupin S. Computer vision syndrome in university students: a narrative review of prevalence, pathophysiology, and management strategies. Borneo J Med Sci. 2026;20(Supl):235-47. doi: 10.51200/bjms.v20iSuppl.8001
35. Glass AL, Kang M. Dividing attention in the classroom reduces exam performance. Educ Psychol. 2019;39(3):395-408.
36. Lai NM, Lim YS, Chaiyakunapruk N, Lee SWH, Liabsuetrakul T, Sabbir M, et al. Review article: the effectiveness of school-based interventions for reducing screen time – a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2025;30(3):223-37. doi: 10.1111/camh.70022
Descargas
Publicado
Cómo citar
Número
Sección
Licencia
Derechos de autor 2026 Dayami Álvarez-Ayala
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
Aquellos autores/as que tengan publicaciones con esta revista, aceptan los términos siguientes:Los autores/as conservarán sus derechos de autor y garantizarán a la revista el derecho de primera publicación de su obra, el cuál estará simultáneamente sujeto a la Licencia de reconocimiento de Creative Commons que permite a terceros compartir la obra siempre que se indique su autor y su primera publicación esta revista.Los autores/as podrán adoptar otros acuerdos de licencia no exclusiva de distribución de la versión de la obra publicada (p. ej.: depositarla en un archivo telemático institucional o publicarla en un volumen monográfico) siempre que se indique la publicación inicial en esta revista.Se permite y recomienda a los autores/as difundir su obra a través de Internet (p. ej.: en archivos telemáticos institucionales o en su página web) antes y durante el proceso de envío, lo cual puede producir intercambios interesantes y aumentar las citas de la obra publicada.
