Adverse Effects of Smartphone Addiction among University Students in South Korea: A Systematic Review

Background: Globally there has been an exponential increase in the penetration of smartphones among the youth population and smartphones have become indispensable in the daily lives of university students in South Korea. Several studies have associated the problematic use of smartphones or addiction with different adverse outcomes. The goal of this study was to collate empirical evidence and provides an overall synthesis of the literature about the adverse effects of smartphone addiction on university students in South Korea. Method: We carried out a systematic review of the published literature between August and October 2022 on the adverse effects of smartphone addiction on university students in South Korea, published between 2012 and 2022 in Pubmed/Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, Biomed-Central, Web of Science, Directory of Open Access Journals, Elsevier’s collection, Wiley Online Library, SpringerLink, Sage Journal’s collection and Cochrane Library. Results: Thirty-four articles published between 2012 and 2022 were included in the synthesis of this review. Eight studies explored the association between smartphone addiction and the psychological and mental health of university students in Korea. Smartphone addiction was associated with physical health leading to sleep disorders and musculoskeletal and neurological problems. Academic performance, procrastination, impulsivity, self-esteem, reduced social interaction, solitude, and suicide were also negatively associated with smartphone addiction. Conclusions: Our study adds to the literature regarding the adverse effects of smartphone addiction on university students in Korea and provides more information for addiction prevention and health promotion activities.