Effects of Different Exercise Intensities on Internet Addiction in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review...

This study employed a network meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the efficacy of different exercise intensities (light, moderate and vigorous) on internet addiction and related psychological symptoms in adolescents and young adults. We systematically searched eight databases for relevant randomised controlled trials. A total of 22 studies with 1438 samples were included. A pairwise meta-analysis indicated that exercise interventions across all intensities were associated with improvements in internet addiction, anxiety and negative moods, with moderate-intensity additionally improving depression. The results of the network meta-analysis suggested that light-intensity exercise (SMD = -2.61, 95% CI [-4.29, -0.93], p = 0.002), moderate-intensity exercise (SMD = -2.74, 95% CI [-4.25, -1.22], p < 0.0001) and high-intensity exercise (SMD = -2.55, 95% CI [-4.88, -0.22], p = 0.032) may be associated with a reduction in adolescents' internet addiction. Only moderate-intensity exercise may be associated with a reduction in depression (SMD = -1.19, 95% CI [-2.20, -0.18], p = 0.021) and anxiety (SMD = -1.90, 95% CI [-3.50, -0.30], p = 0.02); light-intensity and high-intensity exercise were not significantly associated with a reduction in depression and anxiety. Light-intensity exercise (SMD = -1.63, 95% CI [-2.85, -0.41], p = 0.009) and moderate-intensity exercise (SMD = -1.55, 95% CI [-2.56, -0.54], p = 0.003) may be associated with reductions in other negative moods. According to the probability ranking of the likelihood of the optimal intervention effect, moderate-intensity exercise (SUCRA = 71) ranked highest for interventions in adolescents' internet addiction, depression (SUCRA = 70.2), anxiety (SUCRA = 68.4) and light exercise (SUCRA = 67.9) ranked highest for negative moods. However, owing to the limitations of sample size and the quality of individual studies, the strength of evidence needs to be further validated by more standardised, high-quality studies.