Digital Stress and Psychological Outcomes in Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants: A Systematic Literature Review

What the paper says

This SLR was conducted in the field of digital communication in the specific context of intercultural communication. The main purpose of this SLR was to assess studies on psychological outcomes, anxiety, self-efficacy, and social media fatigue (SMF) among digital natives and digital immigrants who use social media and experience social media overload (SMO). Unlike meta-analyses, which statistically combine effect sizes, the present study was qualitative in nature; therefore, it employed a thematic Systematic Literature Review (SLR) adhering to PRISMA guidelines to ensure the reliability and transferability of the study, specifically the methodological process. A total of 45 studies were chosen using a Boolean search in Scopus. The studies range from 2000 to 2025. To focus on more recent research, most studies are from 2020 to 2025. Older studies were included only if they provided essential empirical support. The Boolean search included relevant predefined keywords aligned with the objectives of the SLR, such as coping patterns, generational adaptation, and stress responses. Due to social comparison, digital natives exhibited higher emotional dysregulation, with psychological outcomes and digital stress as foci, focusing on mobile social media. The SLR addresses the divide between digital immigrants and digital natives, particularly in Asia, Central Asia, and other regions transitioning from classical to digital communication. Additionally, this study found gaps in psychological outcomes and infrastructural issues, alongside the primary technological barriers, according to the objectives of the SLR. For example, immigrants experienced higher stress, including coping mechanisms, anxiety patterns, and barriers to digital literacy, offering psychological implications and recommendations to manage excessive digital exposure and SMO.