The Relationship Between Unmanaged Social Media Use and Self-Esteem in Adolescents from Single-Parent Families (Divorce): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The rapid expansion of digital environments has fundamentally altered the developmental landscape for adolescents, particularly those navigating the complexities of post-divorce family structures. This meta-analysis investigates the relationship between unmanaged social media use—characterized by excessive screen time and problematic internet use (PIU)—and self-esteem among adolescents from single-parent families resulting from divorce. A systematic search of databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Persian repositories (NoorMags, Civilica), was conducted for empirical studies published between ۲۰۲۰ and ۲۰۲۵. Ten primary studies (N = ۲,۸۹۲) met the inclusion criteria for the main analysis, and five studies (N = ۱,۶۰۷) were included in a sub-analysis of problematic use. Results from the fixed-effects model revealed a significant negative correlation between social media time and self-esteem (pooled r = -۰.۳۰, ۹۵% CI [-۰.۳۳, -۰.۲۶]). The sub-analysis indicated a stronger negative association for problematic internet use (pooled r = -۰.۴۰, ۹۵% CI [-۰.۴۴, -۰.۳۶]). These findings suggest that while general screen time is detrimental, the quality and “managed” nature of use are critical. For adolescents in single-parent households, who may face reduced parental monitoring and higher emotional vulnerability, unmanaged digital engagement significantly predicts lower self-evaluative outcomes. Implications for digital literacy interventions and post-divorce family counseling are discussed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Social Media Use ، Self-Esteem ، Adolescents ، Single-Parent Families ، Divorce ، Meta-Analysis ، Problematic Internet Use