ArticleBMJ public health2026
Short-form video, cognitive and mental health outcomes: a systematic review.
Article in BMJ public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Associations and Potential Pathways Linking Excessive Short-Video Use to Mental Health Among Vocational High School Students in China: An Integrated Analysis Based on Machine Learning and Path Analysis.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Short-form video exposure characteristics and respiratory symptom severity among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Short-form video (SFV) platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, dominate online engagement among Generation Z. Their rapid, algorithm-driven and emotionally salient design raises concerns about potential associations with cognitive functioning and mental health. To our knowledge, no systematic review has synthesised evidence jointly on both cognitive and mental health outcomes in Generation Z young adults. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 and Cochrane guidance (PROSPERO CRD420251148976). Eight databases (2014-2024) were searched, including PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL. Eligible studies examined associations between SFV use and cognitive mechanisms (attention, executive function, memory, emotional regulation, critical thinking) as well as mental health outcomes in adults aged 18-29. Findings were synthesised narratively by grouping studies according to the primary outcome domains and identifying recurring patterns, consistencies and differences across the included studies. Results: From 519 101 records, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Preliminary evidence indicated associations between heavier SFV use and attentional fragmentation, markers of lower executive control and emotional dysregulation. Problematic or compulsive use was associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, though findings were heterogeneous and often specific to platforms. Some experimental studies reported short-term improvements in mood or associated factors including poor self-regulation, proneness to boredom and escapist motives. These relationships may be bidirectional, with pre-existing attentional or psychological vulnerabilities contributing to more frequent or problematic SFV use. The use of cross-sectional designs, reliance on self-report and inconsistent outcome definitions limited the overall quality of evidence. Conclusions: SFV use may be associated with markers of lower cognitive control and greater emotional regulation difficulties in young adults, alongside anxiety and compulsive engagement. Potential strategies could combine user-focused approaches (eg, self-regulation and metacognitive training) with design-level interventions (eg, pacing cues and friction against infinite scrolling). Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to clarify causality and directionality.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.