Problematic Social Media Use and Anxiety: A Literature Review and Conceptual Model

With over 5.24 billion active accounts globally, social media platforms significantly shape emotional experiences. Problematic social media use (PSMU), which has been defined as a maladaptive pattern of compulsive checking and preoccupation, is consistently linked with increased anxiety. However, this association varies depending on the user, their usage patterns, and the online environment. The literature review aimed to identify the behavioural and subjective markers linking PSMU to anxiety-like symptoms and synthesise these findings into a unified, mechanistic model. Following PRISMA principles, an intensive literature mapping process was conducted, resulting in the retention and synthesis of 80 empirical studies.The synthesis generated a holistic conceptual model identifying five primary mechanistic pathways through which social media use contributes to anxiety. The most consistently supported mechanisms are Social Evaluation Threat (n = 42), Overload leading to Fatigue (n = 17), Intolerance of Uncertainty and Perceived Lack of Control (n = 11), and Mood Regulation and Absorption (n = 11). Sleep Disruption (n = 7) was identified as a critical meta-mediator, amplifying downstream anxiety. Furthermore, Life Events (n = 14) function as a meta-moderator, shaping the severity and direction of the pathways. Importantly, there are consistently bidirectional relationships, where anxiety acts as both a precursor and a consequence of problematic engagement, creating self-reinforcing cycles. This review advances a novel relational, mechanistic model that moves beyond simple exposure models of social media use. This model offers a guide for future longitudinal research and provides direct implications for targeted interventions and safer platform design policies