Exploring the Nexus: Social Media Influence on Mental Health and Eating Behaviors in a Digital Age

Abstract

Social media is implicated in the exacerbation of issues of mental health. This study synthesizes the impact of use of social media on mental well-being and eating behaviors of individuals. After screening papers from Google Scholar, PubMed and JSTOR databases and 19 papers were selected on the specified criteria and assessed for quality. Among these, there were qualitative, quantitative and the literature reviews. The findings were categorized into two key themes: Mental Health and Eating Behaviors. The study suggests that social media usage proved too effective in consuming healthy diet and body shaping. Very few studies declared that it could cause depression and anxiety but majority reveals that it proved to have no relation to create negative impact on mental health However, the significant variations in results are attributed to the limited selection of literature. To gain a deeper understanding of the influence of social media on mental health, it is crucial to conduct further analysis through qualitative research.