Behavioral Problems Associated with Excessive Social Media Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Excessive social media use has emerged as a major public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Increasing evidence suggests that problematic social media engagement is associated with behavioral disturbances including aggression, impulsivity, attention deficits, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and social dysfunction. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between excessive social media use and behavioral problems across different age groups. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO databases was conducted for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Observational studies assessing behavioral outcomes associated with excessive social media use were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. Results: A total of 38 studies involving 74,562 participants were included. Excessive social media use demonstrated significant associations with behavioral problems including attention deficit symptoms, aggression, emotional instability, impulsive behavior, poor academic performance, sleep disorders, and social withdrawal. The pooled odds ratio for behavioral disturbances among excessive users was significantly elevated. Adolescents demonstrated stronger associations compared to adults. Conclusion: Excessive social media use is significantly associated with a wide spectrum of behavioral problems, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Early intervention strategies, digital literacy programs, parental monitoring, and mental health screening may help mitigate adverse behavioral outcomes associated with problematic social media engagement.