Digital leisure and socio-emotional development in adolescents: a systematic review
Abstract
This article presents a systematic literature review to examine the complex relationship between digital leisure and socioemotional development in adolescents. The rise and omnipresence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed the ways in which young people interact, entertain themselves, and socialize, making it essential to understand their impact on crucial aspects such as empathy, self-efficacy, emotional management, and social skills. The main objective is to synthesize existing empirical evidence on the effects and interrelationships of digital leisure (including video games, social media, and online content consumption) on key dimensions of adolescents' (12-18 years) socioemotional development. A systematic search was conducted in specialized databases (Scopus) using key terms such as "digital leisure," "adolescents," "social media," "video games," "socioemotional competence," and "emotional development." Scientific studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included. Article selection was based on compliance with predefined inclusion criteria, and methodological quality was assessed using standardized tools. The review of N=35 studies revealed a mixed pattern of results. On the one hand, prosocial and moderate use of certain platforms was found to be associated with improvements in communication skills, identity construction, and perceived social support. On the other hand, excessive or passive use, particularly of social media and violent video games, is consistently correlated with higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, negative social comparison, and cyberbullying. Digital leisure is neither inherently positive nor negative; its impact is highly dependent on the type of activity, the time invested, and the context of use. Promoting media literacy and self-regulation in adolescents is crucial. Future research should focus on interventions that maximize the socio-emotional benefits of technology and mitigate the risks associated with problematic use.
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