SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNG ADULTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RISKS AND BENEFITS

Kamila Zmysłowska; Kornelia Tyczka; Anna Szatkowska; Malwina Kwaśniewska; Adam Hajdaniak; Jan Mateusz Kiersztyn; Aleksandra Grabowska; Natalia Seńcio; Klaudia Aleksandra Stadnik

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6499

Authors

Kamila Zmysłowska Nicolaus Copernicus Voivodeship Hospital in Koszalin, Tytusa Chałubińskiego 7, 75-581 Koszalin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2413-0806
Kornelia Tyczka Independent Public Regional Hospital in Szczecin, 4 Arkońska Street, 71-455 Szczecin, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8700-2372
Anna Szatkowska Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Hospital in Wrocław, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9970-3354
Malwina Kwaśniewska Nicolaus Copernicus Voivodeship Hospital in Koszalin, Tytusa Chałubińskiego 7, 75-581 Koszalin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0775-8174
Adam Hajdaniak Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Hospital in Wrocław, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1401-3122
Jan Mateusz Kiersztyn Dr Jurasz University Hospital No.1 in Bydgoszcz, Marii Skłodowskiej Curie 9, 85-094, Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4714-0868
Aleksandra Grabowska Regional Hospital in Kołobrzeg, Edmunda Łopuskiego 31-33, 78-100 Kołobrzeg, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6112-1260
Natalia Seńcio Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Collegium Maius, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4358-7511
Klaudia Aleksandra Stadnik Regional Hospital in Szczecinek, Tadeusza Kościuszki 38, 78-400 Szczecinek, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2601-3813

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6499

Keywords:

Social Media; Young Adults; Mental Health; Psychological Well-Being; Problematic Social Media Use; Digital Communication

Abstract

Social media have become an integral part of everyday life, particularly among young adults, influencing patterns of communication, social interaction, and access to information. At the same time, mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, represent important public health challenges in this population. This narrative review aimed to summarize and critically discuss current evidence regarding the relationship between social media use and mental health among young adults, with particular attention to psychological risks, potential benefits, and underlying mechanisms.

Relevant literature was identified through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE and reference screening. The reviewed evidence indicates that the association between social media use and mental health is complex and depends on patterns of engagement, individual characteristics, motivations, and social context. Problematic social media use and passive consumption of online content are associated with increased depressive symptoms, anxiety, psychological distress, social comparison, and reduced well-being. Conversely, active engagement, online social support, and participation in digital communities may contribute to social connectedness and psychological benefits.

Overall, social media should not be considered inherently harmful or beneficial; rather, its impact depends on how and why individuals engage with digital platforms. Further longitudinal and experimental research is needed to clarify causal mechanisms, identify individual differences in susceptibility, and support the development of evidence-based approaches promoting healthier patterns of digital engagement.

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