Social media and strategies for managing uncertainty in adolescence and emerging adulthood. A systematic literature review

Social media play a crucial role in emotional regulation processes during adolescence and emerging adulthood, developmental stages marked by pervasive uncertainty. This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA statement, aims to review extant literature on Social Media Use (SMU) as a coping mechanism for emotional distress within these age groups, particularly the one arising from Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU). Findings highlight how the unlimited access to social media may reinforce maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., overengagement, disengagement, and impulsivity), which are associated with increased psychopathological vulnerability and the maintenance or exacerbation of IU.