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. 2022 Sep 12;9(4):486–517. doi: 10.1007/s40429-022-00435-6

Table 1.

Summarized characteristics of included studies

Author Publication year/data collection time Country
Development status
Income level
Individuals using the Internet (% of population)
Data collection method Lock down Participant group Mean age Sample size/female % Measures Type of behavioral addiction NOS total/category Population-based study
i. Internet addiction
Truzoli [62] 2021/

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes Students 19.3 191/73.3 IAT Internet 5/high risk of bias No
Tahir [63•] 2021/2020

Multi Country

Developing

Lower intermediate income

Online No General population NR 2749/64 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias Yes
Ozturk [64] 2021/2020

Turkey

Developed

Upper intermediate income

73.98

Online No Students NR 1572/63.9 Parent–child IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias No
Aközlü [65] 2021/2020

Turkey

Developed

Upper intermediate income

73.98

Questionnaire No Students 8.52 154 Parent–child IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Kamaşak [66] 2022/2021

Turkey

Developed

Upper intermediate income

73.98

Online No Children 13 4892/51.6 Parent–child IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias No
Perez-Siguas [67] 2021/

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Online No Voluntarily participate NR 113/71.7 IAT Internet 3/high risk of bias No
Gansner [68] 2022/2020

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Online No Adolescents with psychiatric disorders 16.95 42/76.2 PRIUSS Internet 5/high risk of bias No
Lakkunarajah [69] 2022/2021

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Questionnaire No Adolescents with psychiatric disorders 16 447/96 PRIUSS Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Siste [70] 2021/2020

Indonesia

Developing

Lower intermediate income

47.69

Online Yes Students 17.38 2932/78.7 IAT Internet 5/high risk of bias No
Siste [71] 2020/2020

Indonesia

Developing

Lower intermediate income

47.69

Online No Adults 31.84 4734/44.8 IAT Internet 5/high risk of bias No
Jiang [72] 2022/

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Questionnaire No University students 20.49 2688 IAT Internet 8/low risk of bias No
Li [73•] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No General population 33.63 20,472/56.5 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias Yes
Zhu [74] 2020/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No University students 20.56 7562/54.4 YDQ Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Li [75] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Face-to-face interview No Adolescents with psychiatric disorders 14.73 1454/61.2 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Wu [76] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 14.9 625/50.7 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Liang [77] 2022/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Youth 22.28 552/ 63.4 IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias No
Dong [18] 2020/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 12.34 2050/48.44 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Cai [78] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No University students 19.7 1070/75.2 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Sun [79] 2020/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No General population 28.23 6416/53 IAT Internet 3/high risk of bias Yes
Zhao [80] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No University students 20 11,254/64 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Liu [81] 2022/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online Yes Students 13.8 4852/51.5 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Xia [82] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online Yes University students 19.69 494/71.5 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Xie [83] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No University students 21.27 8879/54.4 YDQ Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Shehata [84] 2021/2020

Egypt

Developing

Lower intermediate income

57.28

Questionnaire No University students NR 746/67.16 IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias No
AlSumait [85] 2021/

Middle East

Developed

Upper intermediate income

65.14

Online Yes voluntarily participate NR 613/68.9 IAT Internet 4/high risk of bias No
Jahan [86] 2021/2020

Bangladesh

Developing

Lower intermediate income

18.02

Online No Students NR 601/42.8 IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias No
Nakayama [87] 2021/2020

Japan

Developed

High income

91.28

Questionnaire No Students NR 802/48.9 YDQ Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Lin [88] 2020/ = 2020

Taiwan

Developed

High income

91

Questionnaire No Students 14.72 1042/48.36 IAT Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Prakash [89] 2020/2020

India

Developing

Lower intermediate income

32.00

Online Yes General population 27.69 350/34.6 IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias Yes
Meitei [90] 2021/2020

India

Developing

Lower intermediate income

32.00

Online Yes General population NR 585 IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias Yes
Gecaite-Stonciene [91] 2021/2020

Lithuania

Developed

High income

81.58

Online No University students 22 619/92.9 PRIUSS Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Vejmelka [92] 2021/2020

Croatia

Developing

High income

79.08

Online No Students 14.97 494/57.3 IAT Internet 7/low risk of bias No
Volpe [93] 2022/2022

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes Adults 32.5 1385/62.5 IAT; IGDS; BSMAS Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Ismail [94] 2021/2020

Malaysia

Developed

Upper intermediate income

84.21

Online No University students NR 237/69.6 IAT; IGDS Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Oka [95] 2021/2020

Japan

Developed

High income

91.28

Online No Adults 46.6 51,246/50.1 CIUS; IGDS Internet 6/low risk of bias No
Ballarotto [96] 2021/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online No Adults 22.96 400/70 IAT; BSMAS Internet 5 /high risk of bias No
Duan [97] 2020/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students NR 3183/49.85 IAT; SAS-SF Internet 6/low risk of bias No
ii. Gaming addiction
Saritepeci [98] 2022/2021

Turkey

Developed

Upper intermediate income

73.98

Online No University students 21.35 588/69.6 IAT Gaming 5/high risk of bias No
Çakıroğlu [99] 2021/2020

Turkey

Developed

Upper intermediate income

73.98

Online No Students 13.7 410/56.3 IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
Nugraha [100] 2021/2020

Indonesia

Developing

Lower intermediate income

47.69

Online No Students NR 136/36.76 GAS-A Gaming 4/high risk of bias No
Chang [101] 2022/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 15.16 1305/41.5 IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
Zhu [10] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Questionnaire Yes Students 12.6 2863/52.7 CGAS-SF Gaming 7/low risk of bias No
Wu [102] 2022/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No General population 27 5268/47.4 IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias Yes
Teng [103] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online Yes Students NR 1778/49.3 IGDS Gaming 7/low risk of bias No
Galán [104] 2021/2021

Spain

Developed

High income

90.72

online No University students 23.7 310/69.9 GAS-A Gaming 5/high risk of bias No
Duong [105] 2021/2020

Vietnam

Developing

Lower intermediate income

68.7

Questionnaire No Students 14.5 2084/50.2 IGDS Gaming 7/low risk of bias No
Zaman [106] 2022/2020

Pakistan

Developing

Lower intermediate income

17.07

Online Yes General population 25 618/32.52 GAS Gaming 7/low risk of bias Yes
Fazeli [107] 2020/2020

Iran

Developing

Lower intermediate income

70

Online Yes Students 15.51 1512/44.6 IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
Volpe [93] 2022/2022

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes Adults 32.5 1385/62.5 IAT; IGDS; BSMAS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
Ismail [94] 2021/2020

Malaysia

Developed

Upper intermediate income

84.21

Online No University students NR 237/69.6 IAT; IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
She [108] 2022/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Questionnaire No Students 13.6 3136/51.9 PBS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
Forster [109] 2021/2020

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Email No University students NR 1027/78.32 IAT; SAS-SF Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
Oka [95] 2021/2020

Japan

Developed

High income

91.28

Online No Adults 46.6 51,246/50.1 CIUS; IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No

Koós

Wave 1 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 1747/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 2 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 656/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 3 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 411/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias Yes
Claesdotter-Knutsson [111] 2022/2021

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online No General population NR 932/48.5 PGSI; GAS-A Gaming 6/low risk of bias Yes
Chen [23] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 11.29 504/50 SABAS; BSMAS; IGDS Gaming 6/low risk of bias No
iii. Gambling addiction
Amerio [112] 2021/2021

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes General population NR 6003/50.66 Pacifici et al. 2019 Gambling 5/high risk of bias Yes
Salerno [113] 2021/2020

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Online No General population 33.65 254/55.9 PG adaptation of Yale-Brown OCS Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
Xuereb [114] 2021/2020

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Online Yes Gamblers in past 12 month 37.93 424/36.1 PGSI Gambling 6/low risk of bias No
Håkansson [115] 2020/2020

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online Yes Gamblers in past 12 month NR 997/25 PGSI Gambling 5/high risk of bias No
Månsson [116] 2021/2020

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online Yes Gamblers in past 12 month 39.8 325/35.2 PGSI Gambling 5/high risk of bias No
Claesdotter-Knutsson [117] 2021/2021

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online Yes General population NR 1064/44 PGSI Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
Håkansson [118] 2021/2020

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online No General population NR 2029/52 PGSI Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
Håkansson [119] 2020/2020

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Email No Elite athletes NR 327/36.09 PGSI Gambling 5/high risk of bias No
Håkansson [120] 2020/2020

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online No General population NR 2016/49 PGSI Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
Wardle [121] 2021/2020

UK

Developed

High income

92.52

Online Yes people who bet regularly (at least monthly) on sports before COVID-19 NR 3866/20.23 PGSI Gambling 5/high risk of bias No
Sharman [122] 2021/2020

UK

Developed

High income

92.52

Online No General population 33.19 1028/72.1 BPGS Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
Lischer [123] 2021/2020

Switzerland

Developed

High income

93.15

Email No Gamblers in past 12 month 33.5 110/22.7 SOGS Gambling 5/high risk of bias No
Gainsbury [124] 2021/2020

Australia

Developed

High income

86.55

Online No Gamblers in past 12 month 43.8 764/14.4 PGSI Gambling 6/low risk of bias No
Zamboni [9•] 2021/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online No General population 43.25 1196/64.6 One item asking about of control of the behavior Gambling 1/high risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 1 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 1747/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 2 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 656/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 3 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 411/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
Claesdotter-Knutsson [111] 2022/2021

Sweden

Developed

High income

94.49

Online No General population NR 932/48.5 PGSI; GAS-A Gambling 6/low risk of bias Yes
iv. Smartphone addiction
Serra [125] 2021/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online No Students 4.84 184/71.7 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Indrakusuma [126] 2021/2020

Indonesia

Developing

Lower intermediate income

47.69

Online No University students NR 364/79.4 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Zhang [127] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No University students 26.01 1016/65.16 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Hu [128] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 16.53 2090/62.4 MPAI Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Zhao [129] 2022/2021

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No University students 500/66.4 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Elhai [130] 2020/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Adults 41.32 908/82.82 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Duan [131] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students NR 3615/50.2 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Saadeh [132] 2021/2020

Jordan

Developing

Upper intermediate income

66.79

Online No University students 19.79 6157/71.3 SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Hosen [133] 2021/2020

Bangladesh

Developing

Lower intermediate income

18.02

Online No Students NR 601/42.8 SAS-SF Smartphone 5/high risk of bias No
Sfeir [134] 2021/2020

Lebanon

Developing

Upper intermediate income

78.18

Online Yes Adults 22.25 461/70.9 SAS-SF Smartphone 7/low risk of bias No
Perez-Siguas [135] 2020/2020

Peru

Developing

Upper intermediate income

59.95

Online No Students NR 163/71.17 MPPUS Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Forster [109] 2021/2020

US

Developed

High income

88.5

Email No University students NR 1027/78.32 IAT; SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Duan [97] 2020/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students NR 3183/49.85 IAT; SAS-SF Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
Chen [23] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 11.29 504/50 SABAS; BSMAS; IGDS Smartphone 6/low risk of bias No
v. Social media addiction
Duran [136] 2022/2021

Turkey

Developed

Upper intermediate income

73.98

Online No Adults NR 405 BSMAS Social media 7/low risk of bias Yes
Luo [137] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No General population 33.38 10,963/57.22 BSMAS Social media 6/low risk of bias Yes
Lin [138] 2020/2020

Iran

Developing

Lower intermediate income

70

Online No Students 26.24 1078/58.3 BSMAS Social media 5/high risk of bias No
Volpe [93] 2022/2022

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes Adults 32.5 1385/62.5 IAT; IGDS; BSMAS Social media 6/low risk of bias No
Panno [139•] 2020/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes General population 28.49 1519/76 BSMAS; YFAS Social media 6/low risk of bias Yes
She [108] 2022/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Questionnaire No Students 13.6 3136/51.9 PBS Social media 6/low risk of bias No
Ballarotto [96] 2021/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online No Adults 22.96 400/70 IAT; BSMAS Social media 5/high risk of bias No

Koós

Wave 1 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 1747/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Social media 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 2 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 656/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Social media 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 3 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 411/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Social media 6/low risk of bias Yes
Chen [23] 2021/2020

China

Developing

Upper intermediate income

54.3

Online No Students 11.29 504/50 SABAS; BSMAS; IGDS Social media 6/low risk of bias No
vi. Food addiction
Borisenkov [140] 2020/2020

Russia

Developing Upper intermediate income

82.64

Online No University students 21.8 949/78.3 YFAS Food 6/low risk of bias No
da Silva Júnior AE [141] 2021/2021

Brazil

Developed

Upper intermediate income

70.43

Online No University students 24.1 5368/74.3 YFAS Food 7/low risk of bias No
Schulte [142] 2022/2021

USA

Developed

High income

88.5

Online No General population 42.36 288/54.5 YFAS Food 5/high risk of bias Yes
Zielinska [143] 2021/2021

Poland

Developed

High income

84.52

Online No General population 33.18 1022/93.7 YFAS Food 7/low risk of bias Yes
Panno [139•] 2020/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes General population 28.49 1519/76 BSMAS; YFAS Food 6/low risk of bias Yes
vii. Sex addiction
Caponnetto [144] 2022/2021

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes General population 23.1 1401/52 SAST Sex addiction 6/low risk of bias Yes
Zamboni [9•] 2021/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online No General population 43.25 1196/64.6 One item asking about of control of the behavior Sex addiction 1/high risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 1 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 1747/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Sex addiction 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 2 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 656/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Sex addiction 6/low risk of bias Yes

Koós

Wave 3 [110•]

2022/2020

Hungary

Developed

High income

80.37

Online Yes General population 41.96 411/49.5 PGSI; IGDS; BSMAS; CSBDS Sex addiction 6/low risk of bias Yes
viii. Exercise addiction
Ceci [145] 2022/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online Yes General population 31.54 782/66 EAI Exercise 6/low risk of bias Yes
Cataldo [146] 2022/2020

Multi country

Developed

High income

Online Yes Adults 37.75 729/72.3 EAI Exercise 5/high risk of bias No
de la Vega [147•] 2020/2020

Multi country

Developed

High income

Online No General population 32.88 1079/48 EAI Exercise 5/high risk of bias Yes
Berengüí [148] 2021/2020

Spain

Developed

High income

90.72

Questionnaire Yes General population 35.1 1019/47.8 EAI Exercise 4/high risk of bias Yes
ix. Shopping addiction
Duong [105] 2021/

Vietnam

Developing

Lower intermediate income

68.7

Online No University students NR 250/61.2 OSAS Shopping 5/high risk of bias No
Zamboni [9•] 2021/2020

Italy

Developed

High income

74.39

Online No General population 43.25 1196/64.6 One item asking about of control of the behavior Shopping 1/high risk of bias Yes

BSMAS, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale; BPGS, Brief Problem Gambling Screen; CGAS-SF, Children’s Game Addiction Scale-Short Form; CIUS, Compulsive Internet Use Scale; CSBDS, Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Scale; EAI, Exercise Addiction Inventory; GAS, Game Addiction Scale; GAS-A, Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents; IAT, Internet Addiction Test; IGDS, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale; MPAI, Mobile Phone Addiction Index; MPPUS, Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale; OSAS, Online Shopping Addiction Scale; Parent–Child IAT, Parent–Child Internet Addiction Test; PG Adaptation of Yale-Brown OCS, Pathological Gambling Adaptation of Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; PBS, Problem Behavior Scale; PGSI, Problem Gambling Severity Index; PRIUSS, Problematic Internet Use Scales; SAST, Sexual Addiction Screening Test; SAS-SF, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version; SABAS, Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale; SOGS, South Oaks Gambling Screen; YFAS, Yale Food Addiction Scale; YDQ, Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire; NOS, Newcastle Ottawa Scale