Classification of the main risk factors for problematic social network use in adolescents: A systematic review

There has been a growing interest in the scientific literature surrounding problematic social media use (PSMU) in adolescents due to its potential impact on mental health.It is crucial to identify associated risk factors to design effective, evidence-based preventive strategies.This systematic review aimed to identify the main risk factors associated with problematic social network use in adolescents.The PRISMA 2020 protocol guidelines were followed.A search of the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and MEDLINE was conducted from December 2024 to June 2025.A total of 36 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis.The synthesis yielded four categories into which risk factors could be organised; Individual psychological variables (e.g.low self-esteem, elevated anxiety levels, or depressive symptoms); Variables related to social network use (e.g.FOMO or time spent online); Sociodemographic variables (e.g.gender and age); Family context variables (e.g.poor parental supervision, family conflict, or permissive/authoritarian parenting style).The findings provide evidence of the multifactorial nature of problematic social network use in adolescents, emphasising the importance of considering individual and contextual factors in prevention strategies.The implicated factors include emotional variables, age, gender, and childhood parenting style, all of which significantly influence vulnerability to PSMU.The importance of considering these factors in prevention strategies is highlighted.