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Review
. 2023 Jun 6;13(6):475.
doi: 10.3390/bs13060475.

Social Media Use and Depression in Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Layan Azem  1 , Rafaa Al Alwani  1 , Augusto Lucas  1 , Balqes Alsaadi  1 , Gilbert Njihia  1 , Bushra Bibi  1 , Mahmood Alzubaidi  1 , Mowafa Househ  1
Affiliations
Review

Social Media Use and Depression in Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Layan Azem et al. Behav Sci (Basel). .

Abstract

This scoping review aimed to investigate the association between depression and social media use among adolescents. The study analyzed 43 papers using five databases to identify articles published from 2012 to August 2022. The results revealed a connection between social media use and depression, as well as other negative outcomes such as anxiety, poor sleep, low self-esteem, and social and appearance anxiety. Surveys were the most used study strategy, with multiple common scales applied to assess depression, social media use, and other factors such as self-esteem and sleep quality. Among the studies, eight reported that females who use social media showed higher depression symptoms than males. This scoping review provides an overview of the current literature on the relationship between social media use and depression among adolescents. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring social media use and providing support for individuals struggling with depression. However, more research is needed to better understand the factors contributing to this relationship and to develop more standardized assessment methods.

Keywords: SNS; adolescents; depression; social media; social network.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PRISMA Flowchart.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Publication by Year.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Type of Study.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Number of reviewed papers per area.
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