Comprehensive effects and dose–response relationship of screen exposure on university students’ physical and mental health and academic performance in the digital age: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: This study aims to systematically review the impact of total screen time on university students’ health outcomes and academic performance, and to explore its dose–response relationship. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched to collect studies related to university students’ screen time, with the search period from inception to July 2025. After two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed quality, meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software.