Examining the Role of Family and Social Environment in Social Media Use Among Youth

Abstract

Given the increasing use of social media among youth and the resulting psychological, social, and cognitive consequences, this study aimed to identify and analyze the familial and social components associated with social media use in this age group. This research was conducted using a systematic review approach by analyzing 25 scholarly articles published between 2012 and 2024. The selected articles were extracted from reputable academic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The article selection process was carried out based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were systematically extracted using qualitative content analysis, and a coding table was developed accordingly. The results indicated that factors such as family cohesion, satisfaction with family relationships, attachment styles, social support, self-esteem, resilience, peer pressure, emotion regulation, fear of missing out (FoMO), and cognitive characteristics significantly influence excessive or problematic social media use. Moreover, the mediating role of psychological variables such as mentalization and mental health in the relationship between family and social environment with youths' online behavior was emphasized. Based on the findings of this study, designing preventive and promotive interventions centered on family education, strengthening emotion regulation skills, and enhancing resilience can help reduce the harms associated with maladaptive social media use among youth.