Editorial: The Influence of Internet and Technology on Mental Health and Psychological Adjustment of Young Adults

A new Research Topic collection in Frontiers in Psychiatry examines the complex relationship between digital technology and the mental well-being of young adults across 19 distinct studies. The research highlights critical risk mechanisms such as social comparison and smartphone addiction while also exploring the potential for digital interventions and the cognitive benefits of specific gaming activities. This comprehensive overview provides the mental health technology sector with evidence-based insights into how platforms and mobile applications can be designed or utilized to mitigate psychological distress and promote resilience.

The Research Topic features 19 articles categorized into three thematic strands: risk mechanisms, protective factors, and digital interventions. In the risk-focused strand, researchers like Le Blanc-Brillon et al. investigated how upward social comparisons on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok drive psychological distress among young adults. Additionally, Zhang et al. mapped developmental trajectories linking depressive symptoms and perceived stress to smartphone addiction, while Zhao et al. utilized a cross-lagged panel model to identify bidirectional pathways between harsh parenting, shyness, and cyber victimization. These findings emphasize the need for nuanced, family-level interventions and a deeper understanding of the psychological drivers behind technology-related distress.

Further research into negative digital behaviors includes a study by Şimşek and Başaran, which used latent profile analysis to identify distinct phubbing (phone-snubbing) risk profiles among university students. This move away from treating phubbing as a unidimensional construct allows for more targeted clinical interventions based on how young adults specifically engage in these behaviors. On the intervention side, Kang et al. conducted a pilot study on a behavioral activation mobile application specifically designed for depression among Korean young adults. The study reported encouraging evidence regarding the feasibility and promise of mobile-based mental health tools, suggesting that technology can be leveraged as a practical pathway for mitigation and treatment.

Shifting the narrative toward the positive potential of technology, Li et al. explored the cognitive benefits of video games using behavioral assessments and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Their pioneering research challenges the traditional deficit-focused view by providing neuroscientific evidence that certain video games can enhance cognitive functioning in college students under specific conditions. This research strand highlights the importance of individual resilience and the role of technology as a protective factor, offering the mental health technology industry new avenues for developing therapeutic or cognitive-enhancement tools. Other studies, such as those by Yao et al., examined how core self-evaluation and emotional intelligence mediate the relationship between online verbal aggression and interpersonal trust, further defining the psychological processes that tech developers must consider.