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The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis
Anastasios Dadiotis1, Konstantina Malliari1, Elena Critselis1,2
1Postgraduate Course on the Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|November 22, 2025
Summary
Problematic Social Networking sites use (PSNSU) is linked to increased depression, anxiety, and stress. These correlations are stronger in Western countries and weaker in samples with more females.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Digital Media Studies
Background:
- Problematic Social Networking sites use (PSNSU) is a growing concern.
- Existing research suggests a link between PSNSU and mental health issues.
- There is a need to synthesize recent data on PSNSU's association with depression, anxiety, and stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis on the association between PSNSU and depression and anxiety.
- To examine the relationship between PSNSU and stress.
- To explore moderators influencing these associations.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases (March 2016 - January 2022).
- Inclusion of 38 studies with a pooled sample size of 29,944 participants.
- Random effects meta-analysis, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between PSNSU and depression (r=0.30), stress (r=0.29), and anxiety (r=0.30).
- Correlations were significantly larger in Western countries compared to Asian countries.
- The association between PSNSU and depression was weaker in samples with a higher percentage of females.
Conclusions:
- PSNSU is associated with increased depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Geographical and gender factors moderate these associations.
- Future research should utilize longitudinal designs and focus on prevention strategies considering cultural and demographic factors.
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