Problematic Social Media Use and Internalizing Symptoms as Bidirectional Risk Factors for One Another: A Meta-analysis of Longitudinal Studies
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Social media is deeply integrated into adolescent daily life, yet concerns have grown regarding whether maladaptive or dysregulated engagement with social media may contribute to mental health difficulties. Internalizing symptoms, including depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and broader internalizing problems, are among the most common mental health concerns during adolescence. Emerging longitudinal studies suggest that PSMU may predict later internalizing symptoms, while adolescents experiencing internalizing symptoms may also be more likely to develop problematic patterns of social media use over time. However, findings remain mixed across studies, outcomes, countries, and measures.The objectives of this review are: (1) to quantify the prospective association between earlier PSMU and later internalizing symptoms； (2) to quantify the prospective association between earlier internalizing symptoms and later PSMU; (3) to examine whether these associations differ according to study-level moderators such as age, female proportion, and outcome type.
Source: OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Author: Chao Song
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160807767