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The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education
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The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education

A special issue of European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (ISSN 2254-9625).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 8371

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Keren Dopelt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
Interests: health disparities; health promotion & education; health policy; sociology of health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Social media platforms have become an abundant source of information for a global audience of billions. However, social media can also spread misinformation and potentially harmful health advice. Social networks' complex algorithms prioritize content, regardless of its scientific basis, leading users to act on potentially misleading health information. Influencers, often lacking formal healthcare qualifications, can spread misinformation about topics such as diet, exercise, vaccinations, and medical treatments. Studies have shown that social media followers are more attracted to and affected by social media influencers than health professionals.

The pervasiveness of inaccurate health information on social media platforms poses a significant public health challenge, which can manifest in several health-related behaviors, including vaccination hesitancy, disordered eating, body image issues, excessive exercise, and the use of untested and even hazardous supplements. These concerning trends have the potential to inflict significant harm on individuals' health, potentially increasing susceptibility to chronic conditions and compromising immune function.

This Special Issue aims to explore the effects of social media on health behaviors. Examining this link will enhance our comprehension of the potential challenges and risks associated with social media in relation to health. We welcome original articles (quantitative analysis, both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies) and systematic review works.

Sincerely,

Prof. Keren Dopelt
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • social media
  • social media addiction
  • infodemic
  • health influencers
  • health literacy
  • food and nutrition literacy
  • disordered eating
  • body image
  • health behaviors
  • post COVID-19
  • health promotion and education
  • intervention programs
  • social marketing

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 326 KiB  
Article
Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan
by Asami Baba, Masumi Suzuki, Rikako Yoshitake, Yumiko Inose and Naomi Omi
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(7), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15070125 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 474
Abstract
The number of studies suggesting that social networking services (SNSs) use poses a risk to children’s body image continue to expand, but most studies have focused on adolescents. The study aimed to examine the associations between SNS use and body image among elementary [...] Read more.
The number of studies suggesting that social networking services (SNSs) use poses a risk to children’s body image continue to expand, but most studies have focused on adolescents. The study aimed to examine the associations between SNS use and body image among elementary school children in Japan. This study examined the relationship between SNSs use and body size perception and preference, body size misperception, and ideal body image among 1261 preadolescents (611 boys and 650 girls), aged 8–12 years (mean age = 9.64; SD =1.15; 52% girls), separately by sex. Using hierarchical multivariate linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses, we examined body image factors and SNS use as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. Findings indicate that children who use SNSs do not significantly differ from nonusers regarding body dissatisfaction. However, SNS use is positively associated with body size misperception in girls. Additionally, for boys and girls, SNS use seems to increase the likelihood of admiring the body image of media figures rather than friends or classmates. Understanding how SNS use influences body image remains important for promoting healthy development in children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education)
16 pages, 488 KiB  
Article
Exploring Traditional and Cyberbullying Profiles in Omani Adolescents: Differences in Internalizing/Externalizing Symptoms, Prosocial Behaviors, and Academic Performance
by Ahmed Al Saidi, Claudio Longobardi, Matteo Angelo Fabris, Sofia Mastrokoukou and Shanyan Lin
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(6), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15060100 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1399
Abstract
In the digital age, adolescents spend considerable time online, heightening their exposure to both cyberbullying and traditional bullying. However, few studies have investigated both forms of victimization simultaneously, particularly regarding their impact on adolescents in Middle Eastern countries such as Oman. This study [...] Read more.
In the digital age, adolescents spend considerable time online, heightening their exposure to both cyberbullying and traditional bullying. However, few studies have investigated both forms of victimization simultaneously, particularly regarding their impact on adolescents in Middle Eastern countries such as Oman. This study used latent profile analysis to identify victimization profiles based on indicators of verbal, social, physical, and cyberbullying victimization. The participants included 1204 Omani students (604 girls, 50.2%; M = 14.04, SD = 0.20, aged 14–15). Three victimization profiles emerged: (1) non-victims (n = 989, 82.1%), (2) traditional victims (n = 156, 13.0%), and (3) dual victims (n = 59, 4.9%). The BCH approach revealed that adolescents in the non-victims profile, with the lowest levels of both traditional and cyberbullying victimization, reported the lowest levels of internalizing (M = 10.14, SD = 0.11) and externalizing symptoms (M = 10.36, SD = 0.10) and the highest academic performance (M = 4.59, SD = 0.02), whereas their prosocial behaviors were relatively low (M = 4.71, SD = 0.08). Adolescents in the traditional victims’ profile had moderate levels on nearly all outcomes. Adolescents in the dual victims’ profile, who experienced both traditional and cyberbullying, reported the highest levels of behavioral symptoms (Minternalizing = 11.94, SDinternalizing = 0.34; Mexternalizing = 12.81, SDexternalizing = 0.38) and prosocial behaviors (M = 5.63, SD = 0.36), along with the lowest academic performance (M = 4.37, SD = 0.11). These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive, multi-level interventions to protect Omani adolescents from both traditional and cyberbullying and to support their academic and psychosocial well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education)
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22 pages, 351 KiB  
Article
Association Between the Information Environment, Knowledge, Perceived Lack of Information, and Uptake of the HPV Vaccine in Female and Male Undergraduate Students in Belgrade, Serbia
by Stefan Mandić-Rajčević, Vida Jeremić Stojković, Mila Paunić, Snežana Stojanović Ristić, Marija Obradović, Dejana Vuković and Smiljana Cvjetković
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15020021 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1444
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the association between the use of and trust in sources of information, knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV) and vaccines against it, perceived lack of information, and the decision to receive the HPV vaccine in undergraduate [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to assess the association between the use of and trust in sources of information, knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV) and vaccines against it, perceived lack of information, and the decision to receive the HPV vaccine in undergraduate students in Belgrade. The sample of this cross-sectional study included students aged 18 to 27 who received the second dose of the HPV vaccine or used other services of the general medicine department at the Institute for Students’ Health of Belgrade during the period June–July 2024. The research instrument was a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic data, information environment (sources of information, trust in sources of information, as well as questions related to perceived lack of information), knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccines, and vaccination status. Participants filled out an online questionnaire created on the RedCap platform of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, which they accessed via a QR code. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to assess the association between vaccine status and socio-demographic characteristics, use and trust in information sources, knowledge, and perceived lack of information. Of the 603 participants who filled out the questionnaire completely, 78.6% were vaccinated against HPV. Key factors associated with vaccine uptake were female gender (OR = 2.33, p < 0.05), use of scientific literature (OR = 1.40, p < 0.05) and family as a source of information (OR = 1.37, p < 0.01), less frequent use of regional TV channels (OR = 0.76, p < 0.05), higher level of knowledge (OR = 1.43, p < 0.01), and lower perceived lack of information (OR = 0.50, p < 0.01). These variables explained 41% of variability in vaccine uptake in the multivariate hierarchical logistic regression model. Exposure to and trust in sources of information were significantly associated with knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination, as well as with the perceived lack of information regarding HPV vaccination, and were the most significant determinants of the decision to accept HPV vaccine in the student population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education)
12 pages, 258 KiB  
Article
Examining the Impact of a Behavior Modification Program on Disease Prevention Behaviors among Individuals at Risk of Diabetes: A Quasi-Experimental Investigation
by Thanatkorn Phudphad, Supat Teravecharoenchai, Panit Khemtong and Wanich Suksatan
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14(7), 1969-1980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14070131 - 6 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2728
Abstract
This study aimed to develop and test a behavior modification intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among at-risk individuals. The primary goal was to compare diabetes prevention behaviors and fasting blood sugar levels between the intervention and comparison groups. This study utilizes [...] Read more.
This study aimed to develop and test a behavior modification intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among at-risk individuals. The primary goal was to compare diabetes prevention behaviors and fasting blood sugar levels between the intervention and comparison groups. This study utilizes a quasi-experimental design to develop a behavior modification intervention for preventing diabetes. It involves two groups, each with pre- and post-intervention assessments, comprising 60 at-risk individuals equally divided into intervention and comparison groups. The 8-week intervention includes components like risk assessment, dietary skill enhancement, exercise, stress management, and social media platforms (data recording training, follow-up visits, reminders, and visual aids). Data collection includes self-administered questionnaires and blood sugar level measurements. Statistical analysis involved paired t-tests for within-group comparisons and independent t-tests for between-group differences. The findings showed that the intervention group achieved significantly higher average scores in nutrition, exercise, and stress management, and had significantly lower average blood sugar levels compared to the comparison group. These results suggest that healthcare providers and policymakers should develop community health programs and public health policies that incorporate integrative care, leverage social media platforms, and foster collaboration with other health professionals to improve outcomes for individuals at risk of T2DM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education)

Review

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14 pages, 519 KiB  
Review
Mediating and Moderating Mechanisms in the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Adolescent Aggression: A Scoping Review of Quantitative Evidence
by Georgios Giannakopoulos and Afroditi Prassou
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(6), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15060098 - 3 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1019
Abstract
Adolescents’ pervasive use of social media has been increasingly linked to aggression, including cyberbullying and hostile online interactions. While this association is well documented, the psychological and contextual mechanisms that mediate or moderate it remain unclear. This scoping review maps quantitative evidence on [...] Read more.
Adolescents’ pervasive use of social media has been increasingly linked to aggression, including cyberbullying and hostile online interactions. While this association is well documented, the psychological and contextual mechanisms that mediate or moderate it remain unclear. This scoping review maps quantitative evidence on mediators and moderators between social media use and aggression among adolescents. A comprehensive search using ProQuest’s Summon platform was conducted across PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies, published between January 2020 and March 2025, included adolescents aged 11–18 and reported at least one statistical mediation or moderation analysis. Forty-four studies from 19 countries (N > 90,000) were thematically synthesized. Key mediators included problematic use, moral disengagement, depression, attention-seeking, and risky digital behaviors. Moderators included gender, body satisfaction, cultural setting, school type, and family attachment. Most of the studies used structural equation modeling or PROCESS macro, although cross-sectional designs predominated. Limitations included reliance on self-reports and inconsistent social media measures. The findings suggest that social media–aggression links are indirect and shaped by emotional, cognitive, and ecological factors. Multi-level interventions targeting digital literacy, moral reasoning, and resilience are needed. This review was not registered and received no external funding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Media on Public Health and Education)
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