Bridging the Gap Between Problematic Phone Use and School-Based Interventions A Systematic Mapping Review

Problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) affects approximately one in four adolescents. This systematic mapping review examined whether school-based interventions target the psychological mechanisms most strongly linked to PMPU. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 47 mechanisms studies and 34 school-based interventions (N ≈ 8,500) were analyzed. Intervention components were coded using the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy and mapped onto mechanisms. Results revealed a "bridge gap": interventions showed strong coverage of self-regulation deficits (82%) and anxiety/depression (56%), but minimal coverage of the bridge symptoms connecting psychological distress to problematic phone use—specifically academic stress (9%), boredom (0%), and fear of missing out (FOMO; 0%). Current programs teach students to resist phone urges but rarely address the environmental stressors driving them. Through a stage-environment fit framework, findings suggest next-generation interventions should complement behavioral management with root-cause approaches: reducing academic pressure, increasing engagement, and fostering authentic connection.