Beyond Screen Time: A Systematic Review of Smart Devices’ Multidimensional Impact on Mental Health and Digital Well-Being

Today, smart devices have become an integral part of our lives; however, their impact on mental well-being cannot be summed up by statements on screen time. This review explores cognitive, affective, and social aspects of using smart devices from the perspective of digital well-being within the timeframe of 2014-2024. Drawing on a Scopus-based search reported in line with PRISMA 2020 and supported by VOSviewer bibliometric mapping, the study analyses 64 articles to identify patterns of scholarly production, keyword co-occurrence, and international collaboration in digital mental health research. The findings show a field organized around four interconnected themes: digital technology and mental health interventions, mobile health and psychosocial outcomes, adolescent digital behaviour, and pandemic-related shifts in technology use. Research activity is concentrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands, whereas contributions from developing regions remain limited. These findings depict smart devices as double-edged technologies that while capable of promoting surveillance, intervention, and social interaction, can equally contribute to increased levels of distraction, stress, problematic use, and disruption. It is recommended that more research be done in this field in order to understand the complexities involved and guide responsible digital design and mental health promotion.