A double-edged sword: Exploring associations between engagement with mental health content by social media influencers and psychological well-being

In the midst of a growing global mental health crisis, an increasing number of young people encounter mental health-related content on social media, particularly from influential socialization actors like social media influencers. However, it remains unclear whether and how engagement with such influencer-driven content relates to young people’s psychological well-being. This study specifically investigates whether engagement with mental health content from social media influencers is associated with mental health literacy, self-diagnostic tendencies, and overall life satisfaction. Using cross-sectional survey data from N = 1,113 Gen Z social media users in the United States (Mage = 22.05; SDage = 2.89, 53.55% females), we examined the relationships between these constructs. Our findings indicate that engagement with mental health content by social media influencers is associated with increased mental health literacy. At the same time, this engagement is also linked to lower life satisfaction through heightened self-diagnostic tendencies. These results illustrate a double-edged sword where influencer-driven mental health content can be both beneficial and detrimental for young people’s well-being.