Smartphone use health outcomes in children and adolescents: A systematic review of behavioral, developmental, and environmental risk pathways
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Nermin K Saeed, Adel Salah Bediwy, Yousif M Elbeltagi, Hosameldin A Bediwy, Reem Elbeltagi
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Governmental Hospitals, Ministry of Health, Manama 12, Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Alghrabia, Egypt
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Yousif M Elbeltagi, Reem Elbeltagi, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Hosameldin A Bediwy, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Algharbia, Egypt
Author contributions: Al-Beltagi M conceptualized, designed and supervised the study, and drafted the manuscript; Al-Beltagi M and Saeed NK developed the methodology; Al-Beltagi M and Elbeltagi YM conducted the literature search and study selection; Al-Beltagi M and Bediwy AS performed data extraction and synthesis; Al-Beltagi M and Bediwy HA interpreted the findings; Bediwy AS, Bediwy HA, and Elbeltagi R revised the manuscript; Elbeltagi YM and Elbeltagi R prepared figures and visualizations; and all authors approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: AI tools (Grammarly) were used solely for linguistic refinement and formatting assistance. No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed and revised by the authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, PhD, Chairman, Consultant, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt.
mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: March 5, 2026
Revised: April 30, 2026
Accepted: July 6, 2026
Published online: August 6, 2026
Processing time: 151 Days and 20.6 Hours
