Online Peer Influence and Emotional Intelligence in Adolescents: Emerging Trends in Digital Psychology

Abstract

The proliferation of online communication technologies has changed the social landscape for adolescents, with online interactions becoming a key part of their lives. The teenage years are a pivotal period in which peer influence is heightened and has moved increasingly online. This systematic review will consolidate the empirical evidence on the link between online peer influence and emotional intelligence in adolescents. Emotional intelligence, which refers to the capacity to perceive, understand, regulate and manage emotions, is a crucial aspect of psychological well-being and social functioning in this developmental period. This review will be conducted by examining peer-reviewed articles obtained from databases like Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar, within a specified time period. The studies will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and a narrative synthesis will be carried out to identify broad themes and patterns. The anticipated results are expected to reveal the positive and negative aspects of online peer interactions, such as support and cyberbullying, as well as social comparison. It will also investigate the effects of these influences on emotional intelligence. The results will offer insights to parents, teachers and health professionals in the development of programs to facilitate adaptive online interactions and the emotional development of adolescents.