Childhood maltreatment and problematic smartphone use: A multilevel, meta-analytic review

Problematic smartphone use (PSU), characterized by excessive and compulsive engagement with smartphones, is significantly shaped by the family environment. Recent studies have shown that childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with increased PSU. Despite this growing recognition, comprehensive, quantitative evaluations of this connection remain scarce. The present meta-analysis aims to synthesize existing quantitative evidence on the relationship between PSU and CM.

We systematically searched databases including Web of Science, ProQuest, PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Weipu for studies published up to March 1, 2025. Eligible papers were quantitative, peer-reviewed studies that allowed statistical calculation of the relationship between PSU and CM.

Across 51 studies (99 effect sizes), a moderate positive correlation was found between CM and PSU (r = 0.264, 95% CI [0.226, 0.301], p < 0.001). Notably, as age increases, the impact of physical and sexual abuse on individuals appears to diminish, whereas this age-related effect was not observed for other forms of maltreatment. No significant moderating effects were observed for maltreatment type, measurement tools, study design, gender, sample type (college vs. non-college), or publication type.

The findings highlight the family environment's key role in PSU. Children who experience maltreatment require special attention to their smartphone usage, along with targeted interventions to address both the harms of maltreatment and excessive smartphone use.