Mental health in the digital age: global trends, risk factors, and intervention strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62697/rmiie.v5i3.385Keywords:
Mental health, digital technology, social media, anxiety, depression, psychological well-beingAbstract
The article presents a study with a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical approach, based on a systematic review of scientific literature on the relationship between digital technology and mental health. To this end, academic articles, reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2026 were collected from recognized databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, prioritizing updated sources with scientific rigor. Studies addressing variables such as social media, artificial intelligence, digital interventions, and risk factors across different population groups (children, adolescents, adults, and older adults) were included, while non-academic or redundant sources were excluded. The information was analyzed through thematic categorization, organized into three main axes: global trends, risk factors, and intervention strategies, allowing the integration of findings from an interdisciplinary approach combining psychology, public health, and technology. Regarding the results, digital technology is shown to have an ambivalent impact on mental health. On one hand, it improves access to information and services, fosters support for communities, and enables more accessible, personalized, and continuous interventions. On the other hand, excessive use is associated with problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress, particularly due to the influence of social media, social comparison, cyberbullying, and digital dependency. Negative effects on habits such as sleep and interpersonal relationships are also identified. The results highlight that the impact varies depending on factors such as age and context, with young people being more vulnerable but also the primary beneficiaries of well-designed digital interventions.
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