# Psychological Competences Mediating the Adoption of Health Behaviors in Adults Through Internet, Social Media and Online Games: A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This review explores how psychological factors like self-efficacy and motivation influence health behaviors through digital technologies like the internet and social media in adults.

## Contribution

The study introduces a competence-oriented framework linking digital media use to health behaviors in adults.

## Key findings

- Self-efficacy, health literacy, and motivation are consistently linked to health behaviors like physical activity and healthy eating.
- Digital health effects depend on users' psychological competencies and engagement styles.
- Research is skewed toward East Asia and social media, with limited focus on online games.

## Abstract

Digital technologies such as the Internet, social media, and online games have become integral to an adult’s everyday life, yet their implications for health-related behaviors remain the subject of ongoing debate. While existing research has extensively examined risks and benefits of digital media use, evidence focused specifically on adult populations and on the psychological processes supporting health-oriented engagement remains fragmented. This systematic review with narrative synthesis, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examined peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 involving adults (≥18 years). Searches across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO identified 27 eligible studies addressing spontaneous use of the Internet, social media, or online games in relation to actual health behaviors. Across studies, a consistent pattern emerged in which self-efficacy, health literacy, motivation, risk perception, and perceived social support were associated with the adoption of health-related behaviors, particularly physical activity, preventive practices, healthy eating, and health information seeking. However, the literature was characterized by a predominance of cross-sectional designs, a strong geographical concentration in East Asian contexts, and a marked imbalance across digital environments, with social media and informational Internet use being far more frequently studied than online games. Overall, the findings suggest that digital technologies are neither inherently beneficial nor harmful for adult health; rather, their effects depend on users’ psychological competencies and modes of engagement. By synthesizing evidence across digital contexts, this review proposes a competence-oriented framework that helps explain how everyday digital media use may translate into health-promoting behaviors in adulthood, while also highlighting critical gaps that future longitudinal, cross-cultural, and gaming-focused research should address.