The Effects of Infodemic During Covid-19 On Mental Health

Background: The large volume of unprofessional information, misinformation, false news and the spread of conspiracy theories through social networks, has affected the distraction of the public, causing the appearance of psychological symptoms such as: anxiety, depression, stress, fear, insomnia, panic, etc. The purpose of this study is to identify the negative effects of infodemic on mental health, disseminated on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Systematic literature search was performed, conducted in freely accessible databases at PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, from January 2020 to April 2022. To avoid the possibility of risk of bias, the study followed structure based on the guidelines of Transparent Reporting Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2021). Results: The study included 13 scientific studies with a total sample size of 1709283 participants, spread across 45 countries and aged ≥10 years. Also 3 more study reports were included distributed in 35 states with more than 2520 participants over the age of 18 and 8 media articles. Limitations: The study of infodemic is relatively new, has little data on negative psychological effects and has heterogeneity in the methodologies used. Conclusions: The literature used supports the link that infodemic information and long navigation on social media affect the deterioration of mental health. In Albania, no specific study has been conducted on the psychological effects of infodemic, but based on the analysis of several study reports, media publications and public statements, they conclude that the pandemic period has affected the deterioration of mental health in a part of the population. Based on the cited research, there is still no exhaustive and lengthy explanation for the negative effects of infodemic and social media on mental health during epidemics or pandemics.