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Cited by 19Impact of Technology on AdolescentsMental Health via WritingBody Image and Dysmorphia Studies

Association between social network sites use and mental illness: A meta-analysis

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Yang, Qinghua, Liu, Jiangmeng, Rui, Jian·2022·Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
DOI 10.5817/cp2022-1-1
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Abstract

The existing literature shows mixed results of how the use of social networking sites (SNSs) is related to mental health. Some studies provided evidence that SNS users are more mentally healthy because of the exchanged social support, while others argued that users tend to engage in upward social comparison, which would result in mental illness. To shed light on this relationship, we conducted a meta-analytic review to examine a) the association between SNS use and mental illness and b) the factors that moderate the association. A total of 1,451 studies were retrieved from six databases (i.e., Communication & Mass Media Complete, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Web of Science, PubMed, and Medline), among which 37 empirical studies (N = 84,955) were eligible for meta-analysis based on the inclusion criteria (i.e., empirical and quantitative studies with human subjects, including sufficient statistical information for effect size computation, concerned with SNS use and mental illness). Results showed that SNS use is associated with not only the likelihood of experiencing overall mental illness (r = .11) but also specific illness, including depression (r = .10), suicidal ideation (r = .22), schizophrenia/mania (r = .09), and ADHD/hyperactivity (r = .27). In addition, the intensity of SNS use, continuous measurement (vs. categorical), and participants’ health condition were found as positive moderators, whereas adopting social support as the theoretical framework and the proportion of African American participants as negative moderators of the association between SNS use and mental illness. Implications of the current study were discussed.

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  • The association between SMU and depression and between PSMU and anxiety was stronger in younger social media users.

    “Our findings that the association between SMU and depression and PSMU and anxiety was stronger in younger social media users is in contrast to previous meta-analyses that reported age as a non-significant moderator (Yang et al., 2022; Yin et al., 2018).”

    From Social media use, mental health and sleep: A systematic review with meta-analyses (2024) · cites this paper as Yang et al., 2022

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Authors
Yang, Q., Liu, J., & Rui, J.
Affiliations
Texas Christian University (US)
Corresponding author
Yang, Qinghua
ORCID
Venue
Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
Publisher
Masaryk University Press
Published
2022-02-02
Volume
16
Issue
1
ISSN
1802-7962 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.5817/cp2022-1-1
OpenAlex
W4212804515
Cited by
19
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
Keywords
social networking sites, mental illness, depression, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyperactivity, social support, upward social comparison, moderators, African American participants

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