EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOBILE PHONE/SMARTPHONE ADDICTION IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the research concerning the relationship between physical activity (PA) and mobile phone addiction/smartphone addiction (MPA/SA) among university students, recognized as a high-risk group. Material and methods. We employed general scientific methodologies, including comprehensive literature search, analytical review, synthesis, and generalization. Relevant studies were retrieved from the PubMed electronic database, covering publications dated between January 1, 2021, and October 1, 2025. Results. This literature review reveals a notable inverse relationship between PA and MPA/SA among university students. PA consistently emerges as a significant negative predictor of MPA/SA within this demographic. Its protective role is closely tied to enhancements in psychological well-being, as PA demonstrates positive associations with self-control, self-acceptance, core selfevaluation, and resilience, while concurrently mitigating stress, negative affect, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, both the intensity and type of PA are critical in optimizing these benefits: moderate to vigorous exercise is linked to reduced likelihood of MPA/SA compared to low-intensity activity, with aerobic exercise showing the most pronounced effect in lowering addiction levels. Conclusions. This evidence supports the use of PA not only as a general health recommendation but as a targeted, evidence-based strategy to reduce the risk of MPA/SA in student populations.