Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Social media platforms are increasingly integrated into daily life.
• Concerns exist regarding the impact of social network usage on mental health outcomes.
• Existing research presents mixed findings on the relationship between social media and mental well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize the effects of social network usage on mental health.
• To identify specific social media activities and their correlation with mental health indicators.
• To assess the quality of existing studies examining social media's influence on mental health.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted on Google Scholar.
• Fifty papers were initially shortlisted, with 16 selected after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• The selected studies included cross-sectional, longitudinal, qualitative designs, and systematic reviews.
• Quality assessment was performed on all included papers.

Main Results:

• Social media usage is linked to aggravated mental health problems, specifically anxiety and depression.
• Certain social media activities, such as time spent on platforms, may show a positive effect on mental health.
• Methodological limitations, including cross-sectional designs and sampling issues, contribute to considerable variability in findings.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between social media use and mental health is complex and requires further investigation.
• Qualitative research and vertical cohort studies are recommended to better analyze the structural influences of social media on mental health.
• Future research should address the methodological limitations of current studies to provide clearer insights.