Depression and anxiety and its association with problematic social media use in the MENA region: a systematic review

Background The use of the social media has increased significantly in recent decades, and research on the impact of problematic social media use on mental health is a relatively new and growing area of study in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Social media users are prone to developing addictive behaviors and suffering from mental illness, including depression and anxiety. The present paper aims to systematically review the available research examining the association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and depression and anxiety symptoms that was done in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA region). Methods The academic databases Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane were used to conduct a literature search. Problematic social media use and the MENA region and their synonyms were main keywords in the Boolean search strategy. We selected articles based on the following criteria: (i) addressed the relationship between problematic social media use and depression and anxiety; (ii) MENA region population-based studies; and (iii) published in English. There were no age, gender, or educational status restrictions, and there was no time limit for this review. The literature search was conducted in December 2021. Results The selection criteria led to the retention of 15 articles. The findings of the systematic review demonstrated that most of these studies have found a significant association between problematic social media use and depression and anxiety symptoms. Some studies showed stress, generalized trust, perceived social support, fear of COVID-19, and misunderstanding of COVID-19 mediating the relationship between social media use and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions While there is evidence that there is a relationship between PSMU and anxiety and depressive symptoms, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this relationship.