Annotated Bibliography: Impact of Smartphones and Social Media Use on Youth Mental Health
Annotated Bibliography
Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use, and
Youth Mental Health. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192(6), E136-E141.
https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434
This article considers the evidence linking exposure to smartphones and social media with
rising rates of youth mental health issues, such as self-injury and suicidality. Indicia are
underlined that shows the association of excessive screen time with some negative factors:
disrupted sleep, impaired cognition, and socioemotional problems. This article, therefore,
calls on clinicians to work actively and collaboratively with young individuals facing such
challenges, employing educational and practical interventions. It also advocates policy
measures and awareness to create resilience among adolescents. The authors provide a
critical review of the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that present a balanced view
of the risks due to digital media while accounting for individual differences in
vulnerability. This is a valuable resource for health professionals and educators interested
in minimizing the negative impacts of social media on adolescent mental health.
Brailovskaia, J., Schillack, H., & Margraf, J. (2020). Tell me why you are using social media
(SM)! Relationship between reasons for use of SM, SM flow, daily stress, depression,
anxiety, and addictive SM use–An exploratory investigation of young adults in Germany.
Computers in Human Behavior, 113, 106511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106511
This study aimed to assess motives for social media use and their relationships to
psychological correlates in terms of stress, depression, anxiety, and addictive behaviors
among young adults from Germany. In the present sample of 485 participants, five primary
, 2
uses for social media were revealed: information seeking, social interaction, relief of
boredom, escaping negative feelings, and the pursuit of positive emotions. Key findings
include the predictive role of "flow" for emotional motives to use social media and the
relationship between social media use as an escape from negative emotions and addictive
use. This study points to possible risks of problematic use of social media and underlines
the relevance of taking psychological factors into account in intervention programs. The
present study gives essential insights into the understanding of social media addiction and
its underlying mechanisms, especially among young users.
Cataldo, I., Lepri, B., Neoh, M. J. Y., & Esposito, G. (2021). Social media usage and
development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence: A review. Frontiers in
Psychiatry, 11, 508595. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.508595
This review discusses the association between problematic social media use and the
development of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, with a focus on
depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and neurodevelopmental problems. The authors have
carried out a systematic review, in concordance with the PRISMA guidelines, of 42 studies
published between 2006 and 2020. Results suggested that excessive use of social platforms
may enhance biological, cognitive, and social mechanisms that contribute to the
development of mental health problems. Therefore, this review identifies the bidirectional
association between the use of social media and depressive symptoms, in that loneliness
and stress serve as predictors of greater use. In contrast, excessive utilization itself may
lead to heightened feelings in both states. Cataldo et al. emphasize an interdisciplinary
approach that, through integrating notions of genetic and neurobiological mechanisms,
advances the understanding of PSMU's effects. This work is significant for clinicians and