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Research papers on Social media and adolescent mental health

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  2. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Nader Salari, Amin Hosseinian‐Far, Rostam Jalali, et al. · 2020 · Globalization and Health · 3,678 citations

    Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on public mental health. Therefore, monitoring and oversight of the population mental health during crises such as a panedmic is an immediate priority. The aim of this study is to analyze the existing research works and findings in relation to the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method In this systematic review and meta-analysis, articles that have focused on stress and anxiety prevalence among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic were searched in the Science Direct, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science (ISI) and Google Scholar databases

  5. Delivering Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Young Adults With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Using a Fully Automated Conversational Agent (Woebot): A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Kathleen Kara Fitzpatrick, Alison Darcy, Molly Vierhile · 2017 · JMIR Mental Health · 2,609 citations

    Background Web-based cognitive-behavioral therapeutic (CBT) apps have demonstrated efficacy but are characterized by poor adherence. Conversational agents may offer a convenient, engaging way of getting support at any time. Objective The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a fully automated conversational agent to deliver a self-help program for college students who self-identify as having symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods In an unblinded trial, 70 individuals age 18-28 years were recruited online from a university community social media site and were randomized to receive either 2 weeks (up to 20 sessions) of self-hel

  6. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: a review of reviews

    Stuart Biddle, Mavis Asare · 2011 · British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2,415 citations

    OBJECTIVE: To synthesise reviews investigating physical activity and depression, anxiety, self-esteem and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents and to assess the association between sedentary behaviour and mental health by performing a brief review. METHODS: Searches were performed in 2010. Inclusion criteria specified review articles reporting chronic physical activity and at least one mental health outcome that included depression, anxiety/stress, self-esteem and cognitive functioning in children or adolescents. RESULTS: Four review articles reported evidence concerning depression, four for anxiety, three for self-esteem and seven for cognitive functioning. Nine primary studies

  7. 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 · 1,786 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

  9. The future of mental health care: peer-to-peer support and social media

    John A. Naslund, Kelly A. Aschbrenner, Lisa A. Marsch, et al. · 2016 · Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences · 1,186 citations

    AIMS: People with serious mental illness are increasingly turning to popular social media, including Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, to share their illness experiences or seek advice from others with similar health conditions. This emerging form of unsolicited communication among self-forming online communities of patients and individuals with diverse health concerns is referred to as peer-to-peer support. We offer a perspective on how online peer-to-peer connections among people with serious mental illness could advance efforts to promote mental and physical wellbeing in this group. METHODS: In this commentary, we take the perspective that when an individual with serious mental illness decide

  10. The growing field of digital psychiatry: current evidence and the future of apps, social media, chatbots, and virtual reality

    John Torous, Sandra Bucci, Imogen Bell, et al. · 2021 · World Psychiatry · 1,133 citations

    As the COVID-19 pandemic has largely increased the utilization of telehealth, mobile mental health technologies - such as smartphone apps, vir-tual reality, chatbots, and social media - have also gained attention. These digital health technologies offer the potential of accessible and scalable interventions that can augment traditional care. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive update on the overall field of digital psychiatry, covering three areas. First, we outline the relevance of recent technological advances to mental health research and care, by detailing how smartphones, social media, artificial intelligence and virtual reality present new opportunities for "digital phenotyping"

  13. Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

    Holly Shannon, Katie Bush, Paul J. Villeneuve, et al. · 2022 · JMIR Mental Health · 496 citations

    BACKGROUND: Technology is ever evolving, with more and more diverse activities becoming possible on screen-based devices. However, participating in a heavy screen-based lifestyle may come at a cost. Our hypothesis was that problematic social media use increased the prevalence of mental health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to systematically examine problematic social media use in youth and its association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted to identify studies in adolescents and young adults, using the databases Engineering Village, Psycinfo, Pubmed, and Web of Science. A total of 18 studies were identified, with a total of 9269

  15. 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 · 21 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

  19. Review: Social media use and adolescent mental health – an umbrella review and power analysis

    Katrine B. Tølbøll · 2026 · Child and Adolescent Mental Health · 3 citations

    Background The relationship between social media use (SMU) and adolescent mental health continues to garner considerable attention, yet findings remain inconsistent and contradictory. This umbrella review aims to synthesize recent evidence on this topic and explore whether inconsistencies may be due to inadequate statistical power. Methods A systematic literature review of peer‐reviewed reviews and meta‐analyses published between 2021 and 2025 was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. Eligible reviews and meta‐analyses focused on SMU and mental healt

  22. 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.

  23. 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

  24. 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

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