Relação entre fake news e saúde mental na juventude: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

This study addressed the relationship between fake news and mental health in youth, aiming to map the scientific production on this topic. Despite indications of a connection between virtual social networks, misinformation, and the development of mental health problems in this population, studies delving into this theme are still in their early stages. Using a scope review approach, following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), databases six such as the National Library of Medicine, CINAHL®, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, EMBASE/Elsevier, APA Psycinfo®, and Web of Science were consulted. Additional searches were conducted in primary references and grey literature. Of the 2,351 identified studies, only nine met the inclusion criteria after removing duplicates and applying rigorous selection criteria. This resulted in recent studies, published between 2020 and 2022, primarily originating from Asian countries, with a predominance of cross-sectional quantitative approaches and predominantly female and Asian ethnic participants. The analyzed literature reveals that exposure to fake news is directly related to the use of social networks, with Facebook standing out as the main source of access to misinformation. Among the identified problems in the relationship between exposure to fake news and mental health, generalized anxiety disorder was predominant in the evaluated research, and depression, social isolation, and alcoholism were also identified in the analyzed studies. Additional symptoms included distress, stress, risk behavior, irritability, insomnia, social dysfunction, frustration, panic, and fear. Managing the spread of misinformation, especially through social networks, and promoting digital literacy among the young population are crucial strategies in combating fake news.