Current Pediatric Research

Undergraduate students in various scientific disciplines use social media for several reasons. However, excessive use of these applications may lead to a negative impact on mental health. This review aimed to determine the association between social media use and the incidence of depression among undergraduate students. An integrative review was conducted to examine literature published from January 2010-April 2021, on the association between social media use and the development of depression among undergraduate students. Relevant studies were obtained from several electronic databases, and 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. A wide range of selected studies focused on the time spent on social media. Other themes emerging in prior studies include the role of social media addiction, the purpose of social media use, the number of personal accounts, and mediating factors and their role in the development of depression. The findings of this study reveal a correlation between the utilization of social media and the development of depression. Hence, increasing awareness about these relationships may lead to better utilization of social media platforms and mental health promotion among young adults.

Author(s): Loujain Sharif, Manal Alzahrani

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