What does this research mean for the field?

Artificial intelligence has a dual impact on college students' mental health, contributing to negative outcomes such as anxiety and social isolation, while also providing positive benefits through enhanced learning support and personalized mental health interventions. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to systematically investigate the effects of artificial intelligence on college students’ mental health and well-being.

April 22, 2026Open Access

The Impacts of AI on College Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being in Higher Education System: A Systematic Review Approach

Key Points

This research aims to systematically investigate the effects of artificial intelligence on college students’ mental health and well-being.
Conducted a systematic literature review following Prisma 2020 guidelines.
Analyzed data from three academic databases including Scopus and SSCI.
Focused on 24 peer-reviewed publications regarding AI impacts on mental health.
China accounted for the highest number of relevant studies with 12 publications.
The peak publication year was 2025 with 14 articles.
Results indicated negative outcomes like AI-induced anxiety and positive contributions through enhanced learning support.

Abstract

Background: The role of artificial intelligence in influencing the mental health and well-being of students in higher education has become increasingly significant globally and locally. However, there is still a paucity of research that systematically investigates the effects of artificial intelligence on students’ psychological health and well-being from a comprehensive perspective. Methods: Followed the Prisma 2020 guidelines, this study employs a systematic literature review to examine the impacts of artificial intelligence on college students’ mental health and well-being in higher education contexts. Data were obtained from three major academic databases—Scopus, the (EBSCOhost) Research Databases, and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) via Web of Science, and 24 peer-reviewed publications were selected. Regarding the eligible research works included in this review, a comprehensive analysis and documentation were conducted on their core fundamental characteristics. Specifically, the key indicators under investigation encompassed the temporal trends of publication years, adopted research methodologies, affiliations corresponding to the first authors, specific AI tools evaluated in each study, and the geographical distribution of research contributions. Results: The findings indicate that the most represented regions include China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, Brunei, Peru, Palestine, Colombia, and the USA. Among all the included publications, China accounted for the largest volume of relevant studies, as 12 screened eligible works were conducted by researchers based in China. From a temporal perspective, the earliest relevant study was published in 2022, while the year 2025 witnessed the peak of publication output, with a total of 14 articles released in 2025. Conclusion: Artificial intelligence is associated with several negative psychological outcomes, including AI-induced anxiety, feelings of alienation, social isolation, loneliness, and stress, which have grown increasingly prevalent among university students. Conversely, AI also demonstrates positive contributions to psychological well-being through enhanced learning support, accessibility, and personalized mental health interventions.

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