Objectives: Smartphone addiction is a growing health concern, especially among university students. This updated review expands our 2024 review by synthesizing recent empirical findings on the relationship between physical activity and smartphone addiction among university students. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a thorough search was conducted in PubMed, SSRN, Oxford Research Archive, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. The quality of studies was evaluated with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Sixteen studies published between January 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, met the inclusion criteria: 14 cross-sectional, one randomized controlled trial, and one longitudinal. All emerged from Asia. Most found an inverse relationship between physical activity and smartphone addiction. Experimental and longitudinal studies indicated that structured physical activity could reduce smartphone addiction symptoms over time. However, the predominantly correlational designs warrant cautious interpretation. Still, the directionally consistent average effect size was moderate to large (Cohen's d = ≈ −0.62), highlighting physical activity's protective role. Conclusions: Regular physical activity may prevent or reduce smartphone addiction in university students. However, future studies should employ longitudinal designs, use objective measures, and incorporate qualitative validation. This review reinforces our earlier findings and supports the considerable inverse relationship between physical activity and smartphone addiction.

Background: Headless smartphone use, known as smartphone addiction (SA), is associated with mental health issues and behavioral dependencies. While physical activity (PA) has been suggested as a protective factor, research remains inconclusive. The present study examines whether regular exercise influences SA, smartphone deprivation, and daily smartphone screen time while assessing gender and age as risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study with 701 participants (392 exercisers, 309 non-exercisers) assessed SA with the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) and deprivation feelings with the Hungarian Smartphone Withdrawal Symptom Scale (HSWSS). Daily smartphone use was self-reported. Multivariate analysis of covariance examined the effects of exercise status, gender, and age on SA-related variables. Results: Exercise status did not significantly affect SA, deprivation feelings, or screen time (p > 0.05). However, the correlation between SA and smartphone screen time was stronger (p < 0.05) in non-exercisers (r = 0.407) than in exercisers (r = 0.274). Gender and age were significant predictors: females reported higher SA and usage, and younger age was associated with greater SA, deprivation symptoms, and more screen time. Conclusion: While exercise may not reduce SA, exercisers exhibit a weaker link between SA and smartphone use, suggesting less problematic usage, possibly due to more utilitarian (e.g., sports-related) rather than hedonic use. Females report higher SA, feelings of deprivation, and screen time than males, while age correlates with increased SA, feelings of deprivation, and screen time. Future research should examine psychosocial mechanisms and diverse smartphone usage patterns in addiction in connection with exercise behavior.

Purpose of Review: Exercise addiction (EA) is a maladaptive pattern of compulsive and excessive exercise that mirrors key features of behavioral and substance addictions. While psychological and behavioral characteristics of EA have been extensively studied, its neurobiological underpinnings remain underexplored. This systematic review aims to synthesize current neuroimaging evidence to identify brain structures and mechanisms implicated in EA. Recent Findings: Eight eligible studies using neuroimaging techniques were identified through a comprehensive search of five databases (PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar), following PRISMA guidelines. The findings indicate structural and functional differences in brain regions associated with reward processing, executive control, and emotional regulation, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), inferior frontal gyrus, and amygdala. Lower gray matter volume in the OFC was consistently linked to EA symptoms. Differences in functional connectivity within the default mode network and abnormalities in white matter tracts in frontal-subcortical circuits were also noted, resembling patterns seen in other behavioral addictions. Summary: Current neuroimaging evidence supports the view that EA shares neurobiological characteristics with other recognized addictive disorders. These findings reinforce the conceptualization of EA as a behavioral addiction. However, further longitudinal and experimental research is needed to clarify causal mechanisms and inform clinical recognition. OSF Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/9USBP.

Superstitious behavior is highly prevalent in sports, providing athletes control over anxiety, psychological comfort, and perceived performance benefits. The first literature review on the topic was published in 2016. Since then, new research has expanded the knowledge in the area from cultural, psychological, and situational perspectives. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review aimed to update and expand the first review on the area. PubMed and Google Scholar articles were scrutinized after the original 2016 review (from 2016 to 2024), and Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases (not included in the original review) were examined without a time limit. We found 27 eligible studies, including 26 observational and one experimental study. We used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) to assess study quality. The included studies stem from India, Canada, Taiwan, Greece, Türkiye, Ghana, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, the UK, the USA, Italy, Serbia, and Congo. Data extracted included age, gender, sport type, athletic level, cultural influences, psychological traits, and validated measurement tools. Superstitions in sports remain widespread. About 55.1% of athletes reported engaging in at least one superstition, and over 90% reported sport-specific rituals. Younger athletes exhibited higher levels of superstition than older ones. Gender differences were nuanced and context-dependent. Team and elite athletes relied more on superstitions than individual sports and amateurs. Cultural practices strongly influence superstitions, which often serve as coping mechanisms. They reduce anxiety and improve performance through placebo-like effects. However, excessive reliance on them can lead to burnout. This review confirms the enduring relevance of superstitions in sports. It emphasizes their cultural, psychological, and situational roles. The findings highlight gaps in understanding the placebo effects and long-term impacts of superstitious behaviors. Multidisciplinary research is needed to deepen insights into this complex phenomenon.

The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has greatly increased screen exposure among preschoolers. Since early childhood is crucial for cognitive, behavioural and social development, excessive screen time represents a major public health concern. Identifying factors influencing young children's screen use is vital for creating effective family guidance and health policies. Using convenience sampling, this study collected data from 633 parents across 31 countries to examine how family composition, parental and child characteristics affect the screen time of preschoolers (aged 1–5 years). The model, based on Ordinary Least Squares regression, explained 42% of the variance in children's screen time. Parental device-giving frequency emerged as the strongest predictor, with more frequent giving linked to greater exposure. Screen time also increased with child age and the number of children in the family. Children supervised by mothers had significantly less screen time than those supervised by fathers. Parental age, number of adults in the home, child's sex and temperament were not significant predictors. These findings highlight the significant impact of parental behaviour and household dynamics on preschoolers' screen habits. Interventions should directly target these factors, and family screen time guidelines must evolve to reflect the modern technology landscape, promoting balanced and healthy use.