A systematic review of problematic social media use and occupational functioning

Numerous studies have linked problematic social media use to adverse mental health outcomes. Addiction theories postulate that problematic social media use may also adversely affect one’s occupational functioning, yet this association has not been well-established. We conducted a systematic review to examine the association between problematic social media use and occupational functioning. Searches included a combination of keywords for problematic social media use (including social media addiction) and occupational functioning and were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and PsycInfo. Fourteen studies demonstrated a consistent but small negative effect of problematic social media use on occupational functioning. Problematic use of social media was associated with negative occupational outcomes including worse job performance, lower work engagement, and organizational commitment. This is the first comprehensive assessment of the evidence on the effects of problematic social media use on occupational functioning. Establishing a link between problematic social media use and functional outcomes is an important step in recognizing problematic social media use as an addictive disorder. All studies used a cross-sectional study design and were rated as having a moderate-to-high risk of bias. Future studies should prospectively examine the effects of problematic social media use on a broader range of functional outcomes and in occupations (e.g., military, police, and first responders) where optimal job-related functioning and readiness is of great importance for national and community safety.