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Cited by 219Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyCOVID-19 and Mental Health

Smartphone use and addiction during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: Cohort study on 184 Italian children and adolescents

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Serra, Gregorio, Lo Scalzo, Lucia, Giuffrè, Mario, Ferrara, Pietro, Corsello, Giovanni·2021·Italian Journal of Pediatrics
DOI 10.1186/s13052-021-01102-8PMC PMC8253471
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The lives of many children and adolescents are today increasingly influenced by new technological devices, including smartphones. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic occurred in a time of outstanding scientific progress and global digitalization. Young people had relevant adverse psychological and behavioral effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly related to infection control measures, which led them to spend more time at home and with major use of technological tools. The goal this study proposes is to evaluate health and social outcomes of smartphone overuse among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing patterns and aims of utilization, as well as the eventual presence and degree of addiction. METHODS: This study was based on a self-report and anonymous questionnaire, which was administered to 184 Italian school-age (6-18 years) children and adolescents during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The test was electronically (email, whatsapp) explained and sent by pediatricians either directly to older children (middle and high school), or indirectly, through the help of teachers, to younger ones (primary school). All participants spontaneously and voluntarily joined the present study. The survey was made by 4 sections, and designed to know and outline modalities (frequency, patterns and aims) of smartphone use, adverse outcomes, and related parental behaviors, also in order to reveal the eventual occurrence and degree of addiction. The same information, related to the pre-epidemic period, was also investigated and analyzed. RESULTS: The data obtained revealed a significantly greater adhesion to the questionnaire by females, likely reflecting higher attention and interest than boys to initiatives relating to health education. Our study showed more frequent smartphone use among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the pre-epidemic period. This may be related to the social distancing measures adopted during the months under investigation. The present survey also outlined the changing patterns and aims in the use of smartphones among young people, which allowed to limit some effects of the crisis. Indeed, they were used for human connection, learning and entertainment, providing psychological and social support. Finally, it was observed a significant increase of overuse and addiction. This led to many clinical (sleep, ocular and musculoskeletal disorders), psychological (distraction, mood modification, loss of interest) and social (superficial approach to learning, isolation) unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians and health care professionals should be aware of the potential risks related to inappropriate use of smartphones. They should monitor, in cooperation with parents, possible associated adverse effects, in order to early recognize signs and symptoms suggestive, or at high risk, for addiction. They must carry out, as well, the necessary interventions to prevent and/or lower the detrimental impact of smartphone overuse on children and adolescents' health, oriented to sustain adequate physical and psychological development as well as social relationships.

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  • The COVID-19 pandemic increased the frequency and dependence of individuals on smartphones.

    “Past findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the frequency and dependence of individuals on smartphones [3,4] which might lead to mobile phone addiction among college students [5].”

    From COVID-19 Victimization Experience and College Students’ Mobile Phone Addiction: A Moderated Mediation Effect of Future Anxiety and Mindfulness (2022) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Conclusions report more frequent smartphone use and a significant increase in overuse and addiction during the pandemic. The study concerns Italian children and adolescents, however, so it does not establish the increase for individuals generally. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Serra, G., Lo Scalzo, L., Giuffrè, M., Ferrara, P., & Corsello, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Palermo (IT)
  • Università Campus Bio-Medico (IT)
Corresponding author
Serra, Gregorio
ORCID
Venue
Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-07-02
Volume
47
Issue
1
Pages
150-150
ISSN
  • 1720-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1824-7288
DOI
10.1186/s13052-021-01102-8
PMC
PMC8253471
OpenAlex
W3160489614
Cited by
219
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 72 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 8
FWCI
61.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Italian Journal of Pediatrics/Italian journal of pediatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • IRIS UniPA (University of Palermo) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
Keywords
smartphone overuse, smartphone addiction, COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents, social distancing, screen time, sleep disorders, mood modification, social isolation, parental supervision, pediatricians, health education
MeSH terms
Smartphone, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adolescent, Child, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, Social Isolation, Behavior, Addictive, Self Report, Pandemics

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