JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital addiction, affecting a significant portion of the population, particularly young people, is linked to psychological issues and social problems, making its prevention and management a crucial public health issue.

Objective:

This umbrella review aims to comprehensively analyze the factors influencing digital addiction by re-evaluating the methodologies and evidence quality of existing meta-analyses.

Methods:

Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were systematically searched for reviews and meta-analyses related to factors associated with digital addiction up to September 24, 2024. The methodological quality of the identified studies was assessed using the modified AMSTAR 2 tool, while the GRADE tool was employed to evaluate the quality of the evidence presented in the literature.

Results:

A total of 18 articles were included in the review, with AMSTAR 2 assessments revealing 6 moderate-quality, 4 low-quality, and 8 very low-quality studies. Twenty-nine significant factors associated with digital addiction were identified. Notably, 4 studies achieved both moderate AMSTAR 2 and GRADE ratings, indicating that positive parent-child relationship (r = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.11, P < 0.050) effectively mitigate the risks of digital addiction. Conversely, urban residence (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.19 to 4.53, P < 0.001), adverse childhood experiences (r = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.24, P < 0.001), and social anxiety (r = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.48, P < 0.001) were identified as factors that may increase the risk of developing digital addiction.

Conclusions:

The present study found that social factors such as urban residence were associated with an increased risk of digital addiction, whereas social support served as a protective factor against this risk. Nonetheless, the methodologies employed in analyzing the factors related to digital addiction require further refinement.