THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT ON ANXIETY AND EMOTION REGULATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This narrative review examines the multifaceted relationship between social media engagement, anxiety, and emotion regulation among college students, against a backdrop of rising anxiety rates in university populations. This review synthesises evidence from over 30 peer-reviewed studies (2010–2024) to analyse how distinct engagement patterns—active (e.g., posting, commenting) versus passive (e.g., scrolling, lurking)—differentially impact mental health. Findings indicate passive engagement consistently correlates with heightened anxiety through fear of missing out. Conversely, purposeful active engagement can enhance emotion regulation via social support, emotional buffering, and positive self‑expression. Critically, these passive‑use effects are buffered by emotional intelligence. This paper identifies significant gaps in longitudinal, non-Western, and intervention research. Practical implications include integrating digital hygiene training into university curricula, clinician assessment of social media habits in counselling, and platform-level adjustments to reduce harmful content exposure. The review advocates reframing social media as a potential tool for resilience when used mindfully, and calls for culturally tailored strategies to foster emotionally sustainable digital lives.