Effects of interventions on digital addiction: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Abstract

Digital addiction represents a growing and serious public health concern. To evaluate the effects of available interventions for digital addiction in the literature. The PRISMA guidelines were adopted for this systematic literature review. A systematic search in four databases was performed to identify eligible studies without restrictions on intervention type or sample size up to June 2024. A total of 15 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which included 3815 participants, were incorporated into the analysis. The results showed a significant difference in digital addiction between the intervention and control groups postintervention. Exercise and psychological interventions demonstrate consistent positive effects on addiction levels and associated mental health outcomes. Further research is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of digital interventions in hybrid settings and to explore socioeconomic factors that could influence digital addiction intervention efficacy.