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Research papers on Social media and adolescent mental health

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  1. A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents

    Betul Keles, Niall McCrae, Annmarie Grealish · 2019 · International Journal of Adolescence and Youth · 1,893 citations

    While becoming inextricable to our daily lives, online social media are blamed for increasing mental health problems in younger people. This systematic review synthesized evidence on the influence of social media use on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. A search of PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and SSCI databases reaped 13 eligible studies, of which 12 were cross-sectional. Findings were classified into four domains of social media: time spent, activity, investment and addiction. All domains correlated with depression, anxiety and psychological distress. However, there are considerable caveats due to methodological limitations of cross-sectional design, sampl

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  5. Effects of Social Media Use on Youth and Adolescent Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Reviews

    Nadine Agyapong-Opoku, Felix Agyapong-Opoku, Andrew James Greenshaw · 2025 · Behavioral Sciences · 77 citations

    Background: The impact of social media on adolescent mental health has become a critical area of research as social media usage has surged among youth. Despite extensive research, findings on this relationship remain inconsistent, with various studies reporting both negative and positive effects. This scoping review aims to clarify the multifaceted nature of this relationship by analyzing the recent literature. Objective: This review aims to analyze the current evidence regarding the effects of social media use on adolescent mental health, identify consistent patterns and discrepancies in the findings, identify gaps in our knowledge, and highlight opportunities for further research. Methods:

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  7. Internet Use, Depression, and Anxiety in a Healthy Adolescent Population: Prospective Cohort Study

    Robyn Pauline Thom, David S Bickham, Michael Rich · 2018 · JMIR Mental Health · 22 citations

    Background: Psychiatric disorders, including conduct disturbances, substance abuse, and affective disorders, emerge in approximately 20% of adolescents. In parallel with the rise in internet use, the prevalence of depression among adolescents has increased. It remains unclear whether and how internet use impacts mental health in adolescents. Objective: We assess the association between patterns of internet use and two mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety) in a healthy adolescent population. Methods: A total of 126 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years were recruited. Participants reported their typical computer and internet usage patterns. At baseline and one-year follow-

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  9. Influence of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health

    Jasseer Jabbar, Shibu Dharmarajan, Ritu Priya Raveendranathan, et al. · 2022 · International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences · 6 citations

    Social media use during adolescence can adversely affect health and development.It could be safely assumed that social media is the most famous and preferred leisure activity among adolescents.Most teens report that social media gives positive contributions to their lives, but the modern research literature documented that social media use and adolescents' mental health are adversely connected.Social media is a double-edged sword, so it can affect their mental health in a constructive or destructive way.Hence the excess use of social media comes with some risks for adolescents.The present study found the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.Depression, anxiety, stress, and aggr

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  13. Social Media Use and Its Effects on Adolescent Mental Health: A Review of Anxiety and Depression

    Maria Carolina Mota Mendes, Gustavo França Resende, Talita Braga, et al. · 2025 · CIPEEX

    Introduction: Since the internet became an integral part of daily human life in the early 2000s, the use of social networks has grown continuously, to the point of becoming addictive, mainly among adolescents. Objective: Therefore, the present study seeks to examine how excessive engagement with the internet may influence anxiety and depression symptoms within this age group. Methodology: This study constitutes an integrative literature review. After conducting searches in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases and subsequently applying the established eligibility and exclusion criteria, six articles were included in the present review. Results: Findings sugge

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  14. Social Media Use and Adolescent Mental Health: Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media Engagement, Anxiety and Depression

    Prof.Sonal G. Bairagi · 2026 · International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering & Multidisciplinary Physical Sciences

    Excessive or problematic social media engagement is strongly linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress in adolescents, though the overall impact depends heavily on the quality of use and personal vulnerabilities. Spending more than two hours a day on social networking sites correlates with increased depressive symptoms, emotional distress, and sleep disruption. However, active one-to-one communication and mutual online friendships can actually alleviate loneliness and stress. Core Risk Mechanisms: Social Comparison: Constantly viewing idealized peer profiles triggers negative self-evaluation and body dissatisfaction. Feedback-Seeking: Relying on "likes" and co

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  15. Adolescent Mental Health in the Context of Social Media – Focus on Social Anxiety and Depression

    Hanum Retno Hanifah, Adnanto Wiweko, I Made Danuarta Wiguna, et al. · 2026 · Indonesian Journal of Health and Medical Education

    This literature review explores the complex relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health, with a particular focus on social anxiety and depression. In the digital era, social media plays a major role in shaping adolescents’ self-identity and emotional well-being. This review synthesizes findings from various recent studies and analyzes how excessive and uncontrolled use of social media can damage self-perception, encourage unhealthy social comparisons, and trigger psychological disorders. Using a systematic literature review method, the study identifies key internal and external factors in identity formation—such as family, peers, and role models—and how these interact

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  16. Mental Health in Youth: Investigating the Impact of Social Media Usage on Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Levels

    Urba Javaid · 2025 · ApexMed Journal of Health Sciences

    The relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health has become a hot topic concerning its implications to psychologists, educators and policymakers alike. This report aims to the extent to which social media is a contributing factor to each of the two mental health concerns of anxiety and depression. Based upon a mixed-method methodology, we conducted quantitative and qualitative data collection from participants aged 13-19. Using standardised tools such as the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), our quantitative method was deployed on 200 participants whilst qualitative data was collected on a smaller sample of 20 participa

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  17. SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON MENTAL HEALTH AMONG ADOLESCENTS

    Mohd Sufiean Hassan, Nur Ilyia Iwana Mohd Din, Zairul Anis Azureen Zainal, et al. · 2023 · Jurnal 'Ulwan

    Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter) have become increasingly popular among adolescents. This systematic review examines the research on the association between active social media usage and common mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and fear of missing out) in adolescents. Therefore, using the world's biggest abstract and citation database for peer-reviewed literature, Scopus was reviewed for empirical studies that looked into this connection among adolescents. Empirical research methodology has included synthesis of local and international experience, comparative evaluation, a scientific experimentation gained through observation, and qualitative assessme

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  18. The Impact of Social Media Use on Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents

    Pallavi Dubey · 2026 · Gyanshauryam International Scientific Refereed Research Journal

    The pervasive integration of social media into the daily lives of adolescents has coincided with a marked rise in mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and depression. This paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of contemporary research examining the impact of social media use on adolescent anxiety and depression, with a focus on psychological mechanisms, moderating variables, and the distinction between general and problematic usage patterns. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2026 was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. The findings indicate that general social media use demonstrates weak and inconsistent associati

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  19. Increases in adolescent depression following social media use

    Valerie A. Canady · 2025 · Mental Health Weekly

    Increases in social media use during early adolescence were associated with greater depressive symptoms one year later, according to new research published May 21 in JAMA Network Open. Conversely, depressive symptoms were not associated with later social media use, researchers found.

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  20. Excessive Social Media Use and Mental Health Outcomes: Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

    Michał Rucki, Nikodem Cieleban, Aleksandra Rucka, et al. · 2026 · Journal of Education, Health and Sport

    Background: Social media use is near-universal among adolescents and young adults, with up to 95% of those aged 13–17 reporting active use and more than one third using it "almost constantly." Anxiety and depression indicators have risen sharply in this age band since the early 2010s, raising concern about a causal contribution. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes correlational, longitudinal, and experimental evidence linking social media overuse to anxiety and depression, with attention to mediators, vulnerable populations, and intervention efficacy. Material and methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, the Journal of Education, Health and Sport (JEHS), and Quality in Sport (QS) were se

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