Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40265051›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

Problematic smartphone usage in the Austrian general population: a comparative study of 2022 and 2024, mental health correlates and sociodemographic risk factors.

Elke Humer, Marina Zeldovich, Thomas Probst, Christoph Pieh

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Elke HumerDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria.
Marina ZeldovichFaculty for Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Thomas ProbstDivision of Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Christoph PiehDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The increasing integration of smartphones into daily life raises concerns about potential mental health impacts associated with excessive usage. This study aimed to assess trends in smartphone usage and examine its association with mental health issues as well as to assess sociodemographic risk factors for problematic smartphone usage in the Austrian population over two periods, 2022 and 2024. Methods: Two cross-sectional online surveys were conducted with representative samples of the Austrian general population ( Results: Smartphone usage increased significantly from 2022 to 2024, with a higher prevalence of problematic usage observed in 2024. Higher smartphone use was associated with increased odds of mental health issues, particularly for those spending at least 3 h daily on their phones. Women, younger participants, and Vienna residents showed a higher likelihood of problematic smartphone use. Conclusion: The marked increase in smartphone usage between 2022 and 2024, along with its association with mental health issues, highlights the need for public health interventions targeting digital well-being. Specific groups, notably younger individuals, women, and urban residents, may require targeted strategies to mitigate excessive smartphone usage.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersMental HealthSmartphoneAdolescentAdultAgedAustriaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRisk FactorsSociodemographic FactorsSurveys and Questionnairesalcohol abuseanxietydepressioninsomniasmartphone usagestress

Identifiers

PMID40265051
PMCPMC12011744

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.