چکیده مقاله
The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed social interaction, self presentation, and identity construction Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become integral to daily communication, offering unprecedented access to global communities and user generated content However, excessive and uncritical use of these platforms has raised concerns regarding their psychological impact—particularly their influence on self esteem and broader mental health outcomes This review aims to critically synthesize current research on the consequences of excessive social media use for self esteem and associated mental health conditions It explores theoretical frameworks explaining these effects, examines the mechanisms driving self esteem erosion, and identifies demographic, psychological, and social factors that moderate or mediate these relationships This is a narrative review drawing on peer reviewed studies from psychology, sociology, and communication science Sources were identified through database searches e g , PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus using combinations of keywords such as “social media,” “self esteem,” “social comparison,” “body image,” “mental health,” and “digital addiction ” Inclusion criteria focused on empirical studies published within the last 15 years that explicitly addressed the psychological outcomes of heavy social media use Key theoretical models, such as Social Comparison Theory, Sociometer Theory, and the Online Disinhibition Effect, were integrated to frame findings Evidence consistently links excessive social media engagement to lower self esteem, particularly through mechanisms such as upward social comparison, dependence on quantifiable online validation, and exposure to idealized images promoting unrealistic beauty or lifestyle standards These effects are amplified among adolescents, women, and individuals with high neuroticism, while moderated by strong offline support networks, higher digital literacy, and problem focused coping strategies Beyond self esteem, heavy use correlates with increased risk of anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, fear of missing out FOMO , cognitive overload, and cyberbullying exposure Excessive social media use can undermine self esteem and contribute to broader mental health problems, though the severity and form of these consequences vary across individuals and contexts
کلیدواژهها
نویسندگان
Maryam Dehghan
Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran
Sanaz Pourgoli
Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran
شیوه ارجاع
Dehghan, Maryam and Pourgoli, Sanaz,1404,Mental Health in the Digital Age: Consequences of Excessive Social Media Use on Self-Esteem,24th International Conference on Psychology,Counseling,and Educational Sciences.
ارائهشده در
مجموعه مقالات بیست و چهارمین کنفرانس بین المللی روانشناسی، مشاوره و علوم تربیتی30 آبان 1404