THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL WELLBEING – A REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Abstract
Introduction
Currently, technological advancements have given most people unlimited access to social media. This has both many advantages and disadvantages. Social media significantly facilitate access to information and communication. However, social media can also negatively impact the mental health of the population. The aim of this study is to review the literature to discover the correlation between social media use and its impact on mental health.
Materials and methods
A review of the literature available in the “PubMed” and „Google Scholar” databases was conducted. The search was performed by using the following keywords: social media use, fear of missing out, social media depression, depressive syndromes.
Results
Unrestricted access to social media has become an integral part of human life. This has led to improper use of social media, which can have detrimental effects on mental health. Specifically, it increases the risk of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. Moreover, it can lower self-esteem and life satisfaction. Additionally, it can foster the development of FOMO syndrome, which intensifies excessive social media use.
Conclusions
Further research on the impact of social media on mental health is crucial to discover effective methods of appropriate social media use. This will help in avoiding mental health disorders associated with social media use.
References
Akbari, M., Seydavi, M., Palmieri, S., Mansueto, G., Caselli, G., & Spada, M. M. (2021). Fear of missing out (FoMO) and internet use: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. J Behav Addict, 10(4), 879-900. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2021.00083.
Brown, L., & Kuss, D. J. (2020). Fear of Missing Out, Mental Wellbeing, and Social Connectedness: A Seven-Day Social Media Abstinence Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124566.
Cazzulino, F., Burke, R. V., Muller, V., Arbogast, H., & Upperman, J. S. (2014). Cell phones and young drivers: a systematic review regarding the association between psychological factors and prevention. Traffic Inj Prev, 15(3), 234-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2013.822075.
Cheng, C., & Li, A. Y. (2014). Internet addiction prevalence and quality of (real) life: a meta-analysis of 31 nations across seven world regions. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw, 17(12), 755-760. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0317.
Elhai, J. D., Yang, H., & Montag, C. (2021). Fear of missing out (FOMO): overview, theoretical underpinnings, and literature review on relations with severity of negative affectivity and problematic technology use. Braz J Psychiatry, 43(2), 203-209. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0870.
Hoge, E., Bickham, D., & Cantor, J. (2017). Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children. Pediatrics, 140(Suppl 2), S76-s80. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1758G.
Huang, C. (2017). Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(6), 346-354.
Hunt, M. G., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No more FOMO: Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751-768.
Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., Hoffman, B. L., Giles, L. M., & Primack, B. A. (2016). ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND DEPRESSION AMONG U.S. YOUNG ADULTS. Depress Anxiety, 33(4), 323-331. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22466.
O'Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Whiteman, N., Hughes, J., Eruyar, S., & Reilly, P. (2018). Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry, 23(4), 601-613. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154.
Przybylski, A. K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C. R., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1841-1848.
Rajamohan, S., Bennett, E., & Tedone, D. (2019). The hazards and benefits of social media use in adolescents. Nursing, 49(11), 52-56. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.Nurse.0000585908.13109.24.
Richards, D., Caldwell, P. H., & Go, H. (2015). Impact of social media on the health of children and young people. J Paediatr Child Health, 51(12), 1152-1157. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13023.
Roberts, J., & Koliska, M. (2014). The effects of ambient media: What unplugging reveals about being plugged in. First Monday.
Rodgers, R. F., Slater, A., Gordon, C. S., McLean, S. A., Jarman, H. K., & Paxton, S. J. (2020). A biopsychosocial model of social media use and body image concerns, disordered eating, and muscle-building behaviors among adolescent girls and boys. Journal of youth and adolescence, 49, 399-409.
Sagioglou, C., & Greitemeyer, T. (2014). Facebook’s emotional consequences: Why Facebook causes a decrease in mood and why people still use it. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, 359-363.
Sivashanker, K. (2013). Cyberbullying and the digital self. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 52(2), 113-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2012.11.008.
Turel, O., Cavagnaro, D. R., & Meshi, D. (2018). Short abstinence from online social networking sites reduces perceived stress, especially in excessive users. Psychiatry Res, 270, 947-953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.017.
Vidal, C., Lhaksampa, T., Miller, L., & Platt, R. (2020). Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review. Int Rev Psychiatry, 32(3), 235-253. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1720623.
Vossen, H. G., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2016). Do social media foster or curtail adolescents’ empathy? A longitudinal study. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 118-124.
Woods, H. C., & Scott, H. (2016). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. J Adolesc, 51, 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008.
Views:
921
Downloads:
238
Copyright (c) 2024 Natalia Pacocha, Oliwia Gugała
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
