Psychiatry International (an Open Access Journal by MDPI) is currently welcoming submissions (review / research paper) to their newly launched special issue on The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health.
Guest Editor: Malinda Desjarlais, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The pervasive adoption of social media has sparked ongoing discussions about its impact on mental health. As a distinct social context, social media has the potential to foster connection, inclusion, and social support, as well as contribute to identity formation and knowledge sharing; at the same time, concerns have emerged about its role in empathy development, communication skills, loneliness, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, stress, suicidal ideation, misinformation, and overall well-being. We adopt a relatively broad definition of social media, encompassing online contexts that involve user-generated content, personal profiles, and interconnected social networks. Research in this area can shed light on both the risks and the benefits of social media engagement—whether through
general use patterns or specific online behaviors—and uncover the underlying mechanisms and moderating factors that shape these outcomes. This Special Issue aims to supplement existing literature by bringing together findings that highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between social media use and mental health across diverse populations, cultures, platforms, and contexts.
Deadline for manuscript submissions: December 31, 2026