Is exposure to online misogyny associated with mental health outcomes in girls and young women? A systematic review of longitudinal studies
- 1Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Abstract
Introduction: The mental health gender gap is well established, but there is limited understanding of why girls and young women consistently report higher rates of common mental health conditions. The emergence of online misogyny has garnered attention in recent years, highlighted in cultural debate surrounding extremist influencers and the ‘manosphere’. Understanding the mental health impacts of online misogyny on girls, young women and gender-diverse people is essential given the growing prevalence of gender-based harm in digital spaces.
Objectives: To establish whether exposure to online misogyny is longitudinally associated with mental health outcomes in girls, young women and gender-diverse people.
Design: Systematic review with narrative synthesis.
Data sources and methods: We searched PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed and Europe PMC (4th September 2025). Eligible studies were longitudinal and assessed mental health outcomes in participants aged 11-25 following exposure to online misogyny. Findings were synthesised narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Results: Six studies were included (total N=7,379), reflecting a small and methodologically diverse body of longitudinal research that provides preliminary support of prospective associations between online pornography exposure or cyber-sexual harassment and mental health outcomes among adolescent and young adult women. We did not identify any studies focused on gender-diverse people.
Conclusion: Given the scale of exposure to online misogyny globally, there is an urgent need for longitudinal, mechanism-focused research that treats online misogyny as a social determinant of mental health. Future studies should explore the impact of non-targeted, pervasive or incidental exposure to misogynistic content, such as the ‘manosphere’, given its prevalence among girls and young women. Such work is essential to inform gender-sensitive clinical guidance, targeted prevention efforts, and platform regulation aimed at reducing psychological harm.
Registration: This review was preregistered on the PROSPERO database (CRD420251125049).
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BibTeX
@article{thomas2026exposure,
title = {{Is exposure to online misogyny associated with mental health outcomes in girls and young women? A systematic review of longitudinal studies}},
author = {Ciara Thomas and Laura E Tinner and Jacks Bennett and Lucy G Anderson and Lizzy Winstone},
journal = {Women's Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/17455057261485065},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261485065},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Is exposure to online misogyny associated with mental health outcomes in girls and young women? A systematic review of longitudinal studies
AU - Ciara Thomas
AU - Laura E Tinner
AU - Jacks Bennett
AU - Lucy G Anderson
AU - Lizzy Winstone
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
JO - Women's Health
DO - 10.1177/17455057261485065
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261485065
AB - Introduction: The mental health gender gap is well established, but there is limited understanding of why girls and young women consistently report higher rates of common mental health conditions. The emergence of online misogyny has garnered attention in recent years, highlighted in cultural debate surrounding extremist influencers and the ‘manosphere’. Understanding the mental health impacts of online misogyny on girls, young women and gender-diverse people is essential given the growing prevalence of gender-based harm in digital spaces. Objectives: To establish whether exposure to online misogyny is longitudinally associated with mental health outcomes in girls, young women and gender-diverse people. Design: Systematic review with narrative synthesis. Data sources and methods: We searched PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed and Europe PMC (4th September 2025). Eligible studies were longitudinal and assessed mental health outcomes in participants aged 11-25 following exposure to online misogyny. Findings were synthesised narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Six studies were included (total N=7,379), reflecting a small and methodologically diverse body of longitudinal research that provides preliminary support of prospective associations between online pornography exposure or cyber-sexual harassment and mental health outcomes among adolescent and young adult women. We did not identify any studies focused on gender-diverse people. Conclusion: Given the scale of exposure to online misogyny globally, there is an urgent need for longitudinal, mechanism-focused research that treats online misogyny as a social determinant of mental health. Future studies should explore the impact of non-targeted, pervasive or incidental exposure to misogynistic content, such as the ‘manosphere’, given its prevalence among girls and young women. Such work is essential to inform gender-sensitive clinical guidance, targeted prevention efforts, and platform regulation aimed at reducing psychological harm. Registration: This review was preregistered on the PROSPERO database (CRD420251125049).
SN - 1745-5057
SN - 1745-5065
ER -