The Relationship Between Social Media Use, and Mental Health Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review

Background Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are particularly vulnerable to mood and anxiety disorders. Social media use has been linked to mental health problems in this age group, and its use has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary aim of this scoping review was to examine the relationship between social media use and mental health symptoms among AYAs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploratory aims were to identify factors that may mediate the association between social media use and mental health disorders. Methods A comprehensive literature search comprised of social media, anxiety, depression, and adolescents and young adult domains was conducted in OVID Medline and Embase. The search was limited to articles published from 2020 to 2023. Results Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Social media use was positively associated with severity of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the presence of online discrimination, self-comparison, reliance on social media for social approval, and cyberbullying were associated with poorer mental health outcomes in AYAs. Conclusion Social media use, and related factors, exhibited negative impacts on the mental health of AYAs. This scoping review highlights the repercussions of the pandemic on both social media use and mental health outcomes among AYAs.