SynthesisSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2026
Exploring the relationship between social media use and loneliness in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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7 authors.
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Abstract
purposeAs social media becomes increasingly integrated into adolescents' daily lives, concerns have grown regarding its potential association with loneliness, a prevalent challenge during this developmental period. This meta-analysis examines the relationship between social media use and loneliness, with particular attention to different patterns of engagement.
methodsA systematic search of six databases was conducted for studies published between January 2000 to May 2025. Fifty-nine eligible studies were identified, comprising 67 independent samples with a total of 81,344 participants (59.5% female; mean age = 17.6 years, range = 12.5-24.9). Random-effects models were used to compute pooled effect sizes. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses examined potential moderators, including geographic region, gender, and publication year.
resultsSubstantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I
conclusionsThese findings underscore the importance of distinguishing usage patterns when examining the psychological effects of social media and indicate the need for additional rigorous investigation to clarify the mechanisms underlying its relationship with loneliness in adolescence.
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