Abstract
Background and Aims: Research has shown a potential association between problematic social networking site (SNS) use and psychiatric disorders. The primary objective of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate studies examining the association between problematic SNS use and comorbid psychiatric disorders.Sampling and Methods: A literature search was conducted using the following databases: PsychInfo, PsycArticles, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Problematic SNS use (PSNSU) and its synonyms were included in the search. Information was extracted based on problematic SNS use and psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, anxiety, and stress. The inclusion criteria for papers to be reviewed were (i) being published since 2014 onwards, (ii) being published in English, (iii) having population-based studies with sample sizes >500 participants, (iv) having specific criteria for problematic SNS use (typically validated psychometric scales), and (v) containing empirical primary data reporting on the correlation between PSNSU and psychiatric variables. A total of nine studies met the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: The findings of the systematic review demonstrated that most research has been conducted in Europe and all comprised cross-sectional survey designs. In eight (of the nine) studies, problematic SNS use was correlated with psychiatric disorder symptoms. Of the nine studies (some of which examined more than one psychiatric symptom), there was a positive association between PSNSU and depression (seven studies), anxiety (six studies), stress (two studies), ADHD (one study), and OCD (one study).Conclusions: Overall, the studies reviewed showed associations between PSNSU and psychiatric disorder symptoms, particularly in adolescents. Most associations were found between PSNSU, depression, and anxiety.
Highlights
Global use of social networking sites (SNSs) is growing with over 2 billion users worldwide
In eight studies, problematic SNS use was correlated with psychiatric disorder symptoms
Of the nine studies, there was a positive association between Problematic SNS use (PSNSU) and depression, anxiety, stress, ADHD, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Summary
Global use of social networking sites (SNSs) is growing with over 2 billion users worldwide. Behavioral addictions, as defined by Griffiths [6, 8], are behaviors that comprise six components: salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict, and relapse These components have been reported among SNS users in several studies [e.g., [9,10,11]]. The prevalence of PSNSU varies among populations ranging from 1.6% in Nigeria [12], 4.5% in Hungary [13], 8.6% in Peru [14], and 12% in China [15], only the study by Banyai et al [13] used a nationally representative sample These findings show that PSNSU is an increasing concern across cultures. Research has shown a potential association between problematic social networking site (SNS) use and psychiatric disorders. The primary objective of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate studies examining the association between problematic SNS use and comorbid psychiatric disorders
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