Impact of Problematic Social Media Use Interventions on Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review (Preprint)

Abstract

Problematic social media use occurs when social media interferes with a person’s daily life and mental well-being. Problematic social media use interventions, e.g., abstinence from social media, have the potential to improve users’ mental well-being. However, there is limited understanding of the effectiveness of this and other types of interventions.

This systematic review aimed to synthesise literature on the effectiveness of problematic social media use interventions in improving mental well-being in adults.

A systematic search (2004 – June 2022) was completed across three databases in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Experimental studies evaluating the impact of problematic social media use interventions on mental well-being in adults were included. Outcomes related to mental well-being, such as depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness, were included. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis was completed to summarise study characteristics and effectiveness by outcomes and intervention type. The Quality Assessment Tool was used to measure quality.

Of 2,785 results, 17 studies were included in analysis. Most studies (9/17, 53%) found improvements in mental well-being, five (5/17, 29%) found mixed effects and three found no effect on mental well-being. Therapy-based interventions, that used techniques like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, were more effective than limiting use or full abstinence from social media, with 83% (5/6) of these studies showing significant improvements in mental well-being, compared to 50% (2/4) and 43% (3/7) respectively. Depression was the most frequently investigated and improved outcome with 67% (6/9) showing a significant improvement in depression after the intervention, while other outcomes showed more varied results. Quality was poor with 94% (16/17) of studies receiving a weak global score, mostly for issues with selection bias.

This review provides some evidence that problematic social media use interventions are effective in improving mental well-being, especially for depression and when using therapy-based interventions. Further experimental and longitudinal research is needed with representative samples to investigate who may benefit most from problematic social media use interventions. This will help to develop guidance and recommendations for policymakers and clinicians on how best to manage problematic social media use.