Social Media Use and Psychological Well-Being among Youth in Malaysia: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of young people’s daily lives, raising increasing concerns about its relationship with psychological well-being. This systematic literature review examines social media use and psychological well-being among youth in Malaysia. The review aims to identify patterns and forms of social media use, examine associated aspects of psychological well-being, and synthesise relationship patterns, related factors, and research gaps. A systematic review approach guided by PRISMA 2020 was employed to organise the identification, screening, eligibility, and selection of relevant studies. A total of 28 articles published between 2019 and 2026 were mapped and analysed according to the research questions. The literature indicates diverse forms of social media engagement, including general use, problematic use, addiction, self-disclosure, self-expression, and platform-specific use. Psychological outcomes commonly examined include depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, self-esteem, and mental well-being. Associated factors include cyberbullying, online harassment, nomophobia, and purposes of social media use. The review highlights gaps involving limited population representation, inconsistent conceptualisation and measurement, emphasis on negative psychological outcomes, insufficient examination of relationship mechanisms, and reliance on correlational designs. Future research should adopt broader populations and more comprehensive methodological approaches.