{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T14:56:04Z","timestamp":1792076164756,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":81,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]],"date-time":"2025-10-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761523200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["EJIHPE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The association between social media use and depression found in correlational research has prompted widespread concern regarding the consequences of social media use. In response to this evidence, experimental interventions have been used to evaluate whether lowering social media use affects depression. This meta-analysis synthesised results of 10 randomized controlled trials (N = 1491) to assess the effect of limiting or refraining from social media use on severity of depressive symptoms. Studies were included if they were randomized control trials involving reducing or eliminating use of social media for a period of time. The results indicate that reducing social media use significantly decreases depressive symptoms, with an effect size of g = 0.25, 95% CI [0.10, 0.41], p &lt; 0.001, after adjusting for publication bias. Significant heterogeneity was found between studies, with I2 indicating that 47% of the variability in effect sizes across studies was due to heterogeneity of true effect size rather than random error. Although interventions aimed at reducing use of social media had twice the depression effect size of interventions aimed at abstinence from social media, the difference was not significant. Two other potential moderators of effect size, intervention length and number of social networks included, were also nonsignificant. Overall, this meta-analysis suggests that limiting social media use is an effective way to reduce symptoms of depression. However, more studies with good research methods are needed to evaluate this conclusion. Also, further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects of limiting or refraining from social media use.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ejihpe15110222","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T11:47:19Z","timestamp":1761652039000},"page":"222","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Reducing Social Media Use Decreases Depression Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Willem","family":"May","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6728-7497","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"John M.","family":"Malouff","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jai","family":"Meynadier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1089\/cyber.2020.0134","article-title":"Twenty-five years of social media: A review of social media applications and definitions from 1994 to 2019","volume":"24","author":"Aichner","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.1080\/02673843.2016.1227716","article-title":"Internet use and problematic internet use: A systematic review of longitudinal research trends in adolescence and emergent adulthood","volume":"22","author":"Anderson","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Journal of Adolescence and Youth"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024, June 01). Australia\u2019s youth: Mental illness, Available online: https:\/\/www.aihw.gov.au\/reports\/children-youth\/mental-illness."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"B\u00e1nyai, F., Zsila, \u00c1., Kir\u00e1ly, O., Maraz, A., Elekes, Z., Griffiths, M. D., Andreassen, C. S., and Demetrovics, Z. (2017). Problematic social media use: Results from a large-scale nationally representative adolescent sample. PLoS ONE, 12, (1).","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0169839"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., and Brown, G. K. (1996). Manual for the beck depression inventory-II, Psychological Corporation.","DOI":"10.1037\/t00742-000"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Borenstein, M. (2022). Comprehensive meta-analysis software. Systematic reviews in health research, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119099369.ch27"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1002\/jrsm.12","article-title":"A basic introduction to fixed-effect and random-effects models for meta-analysis","volume":"1","author":"Borenstein","year":"2010","journal-title":"Research Synthesis Methods"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106332","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2020.106332","article-title":"Less Facebook use\u2014More well-being and a healthier lifestyle? An experimental intervention study","volume":"108","author":"Brailovskaia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Computers in Human Behavior"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1885","DOI":"10.1007\/s10389-022-01751-x","article-title":"Experimental longitudinal evidence for causal role of social media use and physical activity in COVID-19 burden and mental health","volume":"31","author":"Brailovskaia","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Public Health"},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Bryant, E. M., Marmo, J., and Artemio Ramirez, A. (2024, June 01). A functional approach to social networking sites, Available online: https:\/\/digitalcommons.trinity.edu\/hct_faculty\/14\/."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.29364\/epsy.467","article-title":"Vliv redukce u\u017e\u00edv\u00e1n\u00ed instagramu na psychick\u00e9 zdrav\u00ed a well-being","volume":"17","year":"2023","journal-title":"E-psychologie"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, Routledge. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S100","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2020.03.006","article-title":"Social media use and cyber-bullying: A cross-national analysis of young people in 42 countries","volume":"66","author":"Craig","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"480","DOI":"10.2174\/1570159X1304150831123535","article-title":"A systematic review of depression","volume":"13","author":"Cui","year":"2015","journal-title":"Current Neuropharmacology"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1007\/s10802-020-00715-7","article-title":"Social media and depression symptoms: A meta-analysis","volume":"49","author":"Cunningham","year":"2021","journal-title":"Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.4135\/9781446249215.n21","article-title":"Self-determination theory","volume":"Vol. 1","author":"Deci","year":"2012","journal-title":"Handbook of theories of social psychology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"de Hesselle, L., and Montag, C. (2024). Effects of a 14-day social media abstinence on mental health and well-being: Results from an experimental study. BMC Psychology, 12, (1).","DOI":"10.1186\/s40359-024-01611-1"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Dixon, S. J. (2024, June 01). Daily time spent on social networking by internet users worldwide from 2012 to 2024, Available online: https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/433871\/daily-social-media-usage-worldwide\/."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dopelt, K., and Houminer-Klepar, N. (2025). The impact of social media on disordered eating: Insights from Israel. Nutrients, 17, (1).","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17010180"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0006-341X.2000.00455.x","article-title":"Trim and fill: A simple funnel-plot-based method of testing and adjusting for publication bias in meta-analysis","volume":"56","author":"Duval","year":"2000","journal-title":"Biometrics"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"629","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.315.7109.629","article-title":"Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test","volume":"315","author":"Egger","year":"1997","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"873","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444810385389","article-title":"Connection strategies: Social capital implications of Facebook-enabled communication practices","volume":"13","author":"Ellison","year":"2011","journal-title":"New Media & Society"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1037\/tmb0000111","article-title":"The effect of self-monitoring limited social media use on psychological well-being","volume":"4","author":"Faulhaber","year":"2023","journal-title":"Technology, Mind, and Behavior"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2229","DOI":"10.1002\/hec.4871","article-title":"The effect of social media use on mental health of college students during the pandemic","volume":"33","author":"Fruehwirth","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Economics"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216770262211148","DOI":"10.1177\/21677026221114859","article-title":"Lack of sample diversity in research on adolescent depression and social media use: A scoping review and meta-analysis","volume":"11","author":"Ghai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Clinical Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1161\/01.STR.0000149626.50127.d0","article-title":"Depressive symptoms and mortality in men","volume":"36","author":"Gump","year":"2005","journal-title":"Stroke"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hancock, J., Liu, S. X., Luo, M., and Mieczkowski, H. (2022). Psychological well-being and social media use: A meta-analysis of associations between social media use and depression, anxiety, loneliness, eudaimonic, hedonic and social well-being. SSRN Electronic Journal, 24, (9).","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.4053961"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1716","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.15199","article-title":"Randomised controlled trials\u2014The gold standard for effectiveness research","volume":"125","author":"Hariton","year":"2018","journal-title":"BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hartanto, A., Quek, F. Y. X., Tng, G. Y. Q., and Yong, J. C. (2021). Does social media use increase depressive symptoms? A reverse causation perspective. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.641934"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.3102\/10769986006002107","article-title":"Distribution theory for glass\u2019s estimator of effect size and related estimators","volume":"6","author":"Hedges","year":"1981","journal-title":"Journal of Educational Statistics"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjebm-2019-111161","article-title":"Is there a genuine placebo effect in acute depression treatments? A reassessment of regression to the mean and spontaneous remission","volume":"25","author":"Hengartner","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Henzel, V., and H\u00e5kansson, A. (2021). Hooked on virtual social life. Problematic social media use and associations with mental distress and addictive disorders. PLoS ONE, 16, (4).","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0248406"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.051625","article-title":"Is there another way to take account of noncompliance in randomized controlled trials?","volume":"175","author":"Hewitt","year":"2006","journal-title":"CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1158","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyn204","article-title":"Commentary: Heterogeneity in meta-analysis should be expected and appropriately quantified","volume":"37","author":"Higgins","year":"2008","journal-title":"International Journal of Epidemiology"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"d5928","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.d5928","article-title":"The Cochrane Collaboration\u2019s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials","volume":"343","author":"Higgins","year":"2011","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764020978434","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the problematic social media use and mental health","volume":"68","author":"Huang","year":"2020","journal-title":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1037\/1082-989X.11.2.193","article-title":"Assessing heterogeneity in meta-analysis: Q statistic or I2 index?","volume":"11","author":"Botella","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychological Methods"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1521\/jscp.2023.42.3.187","article-title":"Follow friends one hour a day: Limiting time on social media and muting strangers improves well-being","volume":"42","author":"Hunt","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2020.06.014","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the association between adolescent social media use and depressive symptoms","volume":"275","author":"Ivie","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Affective Disorders"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1007\/s10763-024-10456-4","article-title":"Exploring the effects of technology-related informal mathematics learning activities: A structural equation modeling analysis","volume":"23","author":"Jiang","year":"2025","journal-title":"International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2013.10.059","article-title":"A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research: Towards a model of compensatory internet use","volume":"31","year":"2014","journal-title":"Computers in Human Behavior"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1464858","DOI":"10.1155\/2019\/1464858","article-title":"Associations between problematic gambling, gaming, and internet use: A cross-sectional population survey","volume":"2019","author":"Karlsson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Addiction"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1080\/02673843.2019.1590851","article-title":"A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents","volume":"25","author":"Keles","year":"2020","journal-title":"International Journal of Adolescence and Youth"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x","article-title":"The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure","volume":"16","author":"Kroenke","year":"2001","journal-title":"Journal of General Internal Medicine"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1089\/cyber.2021.0324","article-title":"Taking a one-week break from social media improves well-being, depression, and anxiety: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"25","author":"Lambert","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking"},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Higgins, J. P. T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M. J., and Welch, V. A. (2024). Chapter 5: Collecting data [last updated October 2019]. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions, Cochrane. Available online: www.training.cochrane.org\/handbook."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.1080\/10503307.2015.1044763","article-title":"How to assess the quality of psychotherapy outcome studies: A systematic review of quality assessment criteria","volume":"26","author":"Liebherz","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychotherapy Research"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, M., Kamper-DeMarco, K. E., Zhang, J., Xiao, J., Dong, D., and Xue, P. (2022). Time spent on social media and risk of depression in adolescents: A dose\u2013response meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, (9).","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19095164"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100331","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmmh.2024.100331","article-title":"Does social media use make us happy? A meta-analysis on social media and positive well-being outcomes","volume":"6","author":"Marciano","year":"2024","journal-title":"SSM-Mental Health"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e01838","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2019.e01838","article-title":"The accuracy of effect-size estimates under normals and contaminated normals in meta-analysis","volume":"5","author":"Marfo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1191","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(00)04337-3","article-title":"The CONSORT statement: Revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomised trials","volume":"357","author":"Moher","year":"2001","journal-title":"The Lancet"},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"752","article-title":"Cognitive benefits of online social networking for healthy older adults","volume":"72","author":"Myhre","year":"2017","journal-title":"The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"British Medical Journal"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1335","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2015.06.015","article-title":"Social media use in chronic disease: A systematic review and novel taxonomy","volume":"128","author":"Patel","year":"2015","journal-title":"The American Journal of Medicine"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2019.12.003","article-title":"The burden of depression in adolescents and the importance of early recognition","volume":"218","author":"Petito","year":"2020","journal-title":"The Journal of Pediatrics"},{"key":"ref_56","unstructured":"Petrosyan, A. (2024, June 01). Number of internet and social media users worldwide as of July 2024, Available online: https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/617136\/digital-population-worldwide\/."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e44922","DOI":"10.2196\/44922","article-title":"The impact of social media use interventions on mental well-being: Systematic review","volume":"25","author":"Plackett","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Medical Internet Research"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chc.2016.12.007","article-title":"Social media as it interfaces with psychosocial development and mental illness in transitional age youth","volume":"26","author":"Primack","year":"2017","journal-title":"Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1177\/014662167700100306","article-title":"The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population","volume":"1","author":"Radloff","year":"1977","journal-title":"Applied Psychological Measurement"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e786","DOI":"10.52225\/narra.v4i2.786","article-title":"Impacts of digital social media detox for mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"4","author":"Ramadhan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Narra J"},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1007\/s41347-023-00304-7","article-title":"Reduction in social media usage produces improvements in physical health and wellbeing: An RCT","volume":"8","author":"Reed","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science"},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101296","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2021.12.008","article-title":"Self-regulation as a key boundary condition in the relationship between social media use and well-being","volume":"45","author":"Reinecke","year":"2022","journal-title":"Current Opinion in Psychology"},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109639","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2019.109639","article-title":"Social networking site use and self-esteem: A meta-analytic review","volume":"153","author":"Saiphoo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Personality and Individual Differences"},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"607","DOI":"10.1556\/2006.2022.00023","article-title":"Social comparisons: A potential mechanism linking problematic social media use with depression","volume":"11","author":"Samra","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Behavioral Addictions"},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.1026\/0942-5403\/a000392","article-title":"The effect of a 1-week abstinence from Instagram on mental health in youth and young adults","volume":"31","author":"Schwarz","year":"2023","journal-title":"Kindheit Und Entwicklung"},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e5842","DOI":"10.2196\/mental.5842","article-title":"Social networking sites, depression, and anxiety: A systematic review","volume":"3","author":"Seabrook","year":"2016","journal-title":"JMIR Mental Health"},{"key":"ref_67","unstructured":"Smith, A., and Anderson, M. (2024, June 01). Social media use in 2018, Available online: https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/internet\/2018\/03\/01\/social-media-use-in-2018\/."},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106699","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2020.106699","article-title":"A review of theories and models applied in studies of social media addiction and implications for future research","volume":"114","author":"Sun","year":"2020","journal-title":"Addictive Behaviors"},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1521\/jscp.2021.40.6.481","article-title":"The effects of reducing social media use on body esteem among transitional-aged youth","volume":"40","author":"Thai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology"},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1089\/cyber.2016.0259","article-title":"The Facebook experiment: Quitting Facebook leads to higher levels of well-being","volume":"19","author":"Tromholt","year":"2016","journal-title":"Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking"},{"key":"ref_71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1177\/2167702617723376","article-title":"Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates among U.S. adolescents after 2010 and links to increased new media screen time","volume":"6","author":"Twenge","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clinical Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.3390\/epidemiologia3010002","article-title":"Social media use and mental health: A global analysis","volume":"3","author":"Ulvi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Epidemiologia"},{"key":"ref_73","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2174","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-019-0150-6","article-title":"The association between self-reported depressive symptoms and the use of social networking sites (SNS): A meta-analysis","volume":"40","author":"Vahedi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Current Psychology"},{"key":"ref_74","unstructured":"Veritas Health Innovation (2024, June 01). Covidence systematic review software, Available online: http:\/\/www.covidence.org."},{"key":"ref_75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.32598\/jams.24.1.6099.1","article-title":"The effect of social media use on depression in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"24","author":"Vesal","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Arak University Medical Sciences"},{"key":"ref_76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1080\/09540261.2020.1720623","article-title":"Social media use and depression in adolescents: A scoping review","volume":"32","author":"Vidal","year":"2020","journal-title":"International Review of Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.1521\/jscp.2023.42.6.558","article-title":"Effects of reduced and altered use of social networking sites\u2014A randomized controlled study","volume":"42","author":"Wolgast","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology"},{"key":"ref_78","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2024, June 01). Global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level, Available online: https:\/\/apps.who.int\/gb\/ebwha\/pdf_files\/EB130\/B130_9-en.pdf."},{"key":"ref_79","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2024, June 01). Depression and other common mental disorders global health estimates, Available online: https:\/\/iris.who.int\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/254610\/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?sequence=1."},{"key":"ref_80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7936","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-023-04972-9","article-title":"The relationship between problematic social media use and depression: A meta-analysis study","volume":"43","author":"Yigiter","year":"2023","journal-title":"Current Psychology"},{"key":"ref_81","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2019.01.026","article-title":"Is social network site usage related to depression? A meta-analysis of Facebook\u2013depression relations","volume":"248","author":"Yoon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Affective Disorders"}],"container-title":["European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2254-9625\/15\/11\/222\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T12:48:30Z","timestamp":1761655710000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2254-9625\/15\/11\/222"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]]},"references-count":81,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]}},"alternative-id":["ejihpe15110222"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ejihpe15110222","relation":{},"ISSN":["2254-9625"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2254-9625","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]]}}}