Introduction Smartphone addiction threatens university students’ academic performance. There is a paucity of synthesised literature on its prevalence and correlates among such populations. This scoping review synthesised literature on the prevalence, correlates, predictors, demographic differences and effects of smartphone addiction in this population. Methods Following the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework, a comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, JSTOR, Central, Dimensions AI, and PsycINFO) and Google Scholar. The search strategy included English‐language articles published from 2005 to May 2024. Study selection, data extraction and synthesis were performed by a team of authors, with consultation from experts and an academic librarian at various stages of the review process. Results The initial search yielded 2036 records, with 44 studies ultimately included in the review. The prevalence of smartphone addiction among university students ranged 11%–85% globally. Correlates of addiction included mental health issues, academic performance, social factors, lifestyle habits and demographic variables. Predictors of smartphone addiction involved socioeconomic factors, psychological conditions, usage patterns and demographic characteristics. Demographic differences were observed, with women showing a higher prevalence and different patterns of addiction compared to men. The effects of smartphone addiction were poor sleep patterns, physical health and psychological well‐being. Conclusion Smartphone addiction among university students was highly prevalent and strongly associated with adverse mental, academic and physical health outcomes. Universities should implement digital literacy and mental health programmes to promote balanced smartphone use. Further research should explore gender‐specific interventions and behavioural modification strategies to mitigate addiction risks.
Miezah et al. (2026) studied this question.