BKM Public Health and Community Medicine

Social media engagement patterns in relation to adolescent anxiety and depression: a systematic review

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Purpose: Adolescents are increasingly immersed in social media environments that encourage curated self-presentation and social comparison. Global prevalence estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that 5.5% of adolescents aged 15–19 meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. While prior research emphasized screen time duration, emerging evidence suggests that how young people engage— primarily through passive, emotionally reactive, or appearance-focused behaviors—may be more predictive of internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depression. This systematic review aimed to synthesize observational evidence on associations between adolescent social media use and internalising symptoms, with particular attention to engagement patterns, psychosocial mediators, and contextual moderators.

Methods: A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and AI-assisted platforms was conducted between April 14 and 25, 2025. Inclusion criteria were: observational design, adolescent population (10–19 years), validated measures of anxiety/depression, and exposure to social media use. Ten studies published between 2018 and 2025 met eligibility criteria (N=10). Data were synthesized narratively, with quality assessed using the JBI checklist.

Results: Across studies, problematic use and passive scrolling were more strongly associated with anxiety and depression than total time spent online. Sleep disruption and appearance-based comparison consistently emerged as mediators, while gender, emotional reactivity, and socioeconomic background moderated vulnerability. Girls and gender- diverse adolescents reported higher psychological reactivity. Protective factors included physical activity and family support. Most studies were cross-sectional; only one referenced neurobiological pathways.

Conclusion: Digital mental health risks in adolescents are driven less by screen exposure time and more by emotionally charged engagement styles. Interventions should prioritize resilience-building and digital literacy, while future research must incorporate longitudinal and biopsychosocial frameworks to capture the complexity of these associations better.

A scoping review of partners and in-law roles in postpartum depression

Lintang Kemuning Mustikaning Rahayu, Zahroh Shaluhiyah, Antono Suryoputro — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Purpose: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects about 17.22% of women globally, with higher rates in regions like Southern Africa and Southeast Asia, and is associated with negative impacts on breastfeeding, self-care, infant care, and maternal mental health. Support from family members plays a crucial role in protecting mothers from PPD by providing emotional and practical assistance. However, in some family arrangements, while in-laws can be supportive, conflicts or unmet expectations may also increase the risk of emotional distress and PPD. This study seeks to identify existing literature on the roles of family support in postpartum care.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted using PubMed and ScienceDirect as databases, applying search terms such as “Mothers”, “Support”, and “Postpartum Depression”.

Results: A total of 11 published articles between 2020 and 2025 were selected after meeting the inclusion criteria. This review emphasizes the essential role of familial relationships in shaping postpartum mental health within traditional household settings. Supportive behaviors from husbands consistently emerged as protective factors against PPD by reducing psychological stress, which can contribute to depressive symptoms. Likewise, the role of in-laws can either alleviate or intensify maternal stress.

Conclusion: Husbands are encouraged to engage in open and empathetic communication with their partners, providing consistent emotional support and reassurance. Furthermore, husbands can serve a pivotal role in managing dynamics within the extended family by establishing appropriate boundaries and fostering a supportive and respectful environment that prioritizes the mother’s psychological well-being.

Utilizing “Google Trends” data to support early detection of epidemic outbreaks: a preliminary study

Frisca Rahmadina, Bagas Suryo Bintoro, Aditya Lia Ramadona — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Purpose: This study examined the potential application of Google Trends in supporting early epidemic detection and health campaigns, using the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia as a case study.

Method: COVID-19 case data from 2020 to 2022 were collected. Search patterns were analyzed using Indonesian keywords for symptoms: “demam”, “sakit kepala”, “pilek”, “bersin”, “sakit tenggorokan”, “perut”, “batuk”, “nafsu makan”, “muntah”, “lesu”, “mual”, and “diare.” The search patterns were then compared to the COVID-19 case data.

Results: We observed a pattern alignment between Google Trends and COVID-19 case peaks. Additionally, differences in lag time were identified between search trends and case peaks across SARS-CoV-2 variants. For instance, the peaks of “sakit tenggorokan” and “batuk” searches lagged about one week for Omicron, around two weeks for Delta, and more than two weeks for Alpha.

Conclusion: Internet search activity can support early detection of epidemics and inform timely health campaigns. Moreover, search trends might offer a novel approach to estimate disease incubation periods.

The time is ripe: a scoping review of risk factors and barriers in preconception care

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Purpose: Preconception care (PCC) is fundamental to preparing for a healthy pregnancy by reducing risk factors. However, there are still various obstacles to its implementation. This review aims to identify risk factors and barriers to accessing and implementing PCC.

Methods: The research design used a scoping review compiled from articles obtained from four databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria include original articles published between 2020 and 2025 that are fully accessible, written in English, and reports on PCC risk factors and barriers. Exclusion criteria include theoretical articles without practical applications, research related to specific medical conditions, and articles that are not relevant to the research objectives. The selection process was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (2020) guidelines. Data from selected articles were extracted and synthesized narratively in accordance with the Update Methodological Guidance for the Conduct of Scoping Reviews (2020).

Results: A total of 896 articles were found in the search. After screening, 14 articles were selected for analysis. These articles represented eight countries, including Ethiopia, the United States of America, and Australia. Low PCC knowledge, poor obstetric history, and maternal age were the most frequently discussed risk factors for PCC. Meanwhile, barriers to PCC implementation were attributed to the lack of PCC guidelines and service standards, low PCC education and promotion, and low motivation and knowledge of healthcare workers.

Conclusion: The implementation of PCC remains hindered by policy limitations, system readiness, and health worker capacity, underscoring the need for further research as a basis for developing comprehensive guidelines.

Origami activities are effective in improving fine motor skills of stunted children

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of origami activities on fine motor development in stunted children aged 3–5 years.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest control group design was conducted at the Babakan Community Health Center, Cirebon District. A total of 60 stunted children were recruited and equally assigned to intervention and control groups (n = 30 each group). The intervention group participated in three origami activity sessions, while the control group did not receive the intervention. Fine motor skills were assessed before and after the intervention using the KPSP questionnaire. Group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test.

Results: Children in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in fine motor skills compared with the control group (p = 0.014).

Conclusion: Origami activities are effective in enhancing fine motor development among stunted children and may serve as a simple, low-cost intervention in community health settings.