Mental Health
Is exposure to online misogyny associated with mental health outcomes in girls and young women? A systematic review of longitudinal studies.
Open Access: No.
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.
Relevance
This review examined different forms of online misogyny, including online sexual harassment, gendered hate speech, image-based abuse, misogynistic content exposure such as including pornography, trolling, memes from incel forums and the manosphere, and related gender-based online harms, alongside outcomes including depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, body image concerns, and psychological wellbeing.
The study observed that “mainstream online pornography often depicts gender roles, bodies, and sexual practices in ways that reinforce harmful beliefs about women, consent, and sexual entitlement, including humiliation, coercion, and aggression. When pornography serves as a primary source of sexual learning, these portrayals may contribute to internalised misogyny and distorted expectations of gendered relationships.”
Citation
Thoma, C., Tinner, L. E., Bennett, J., Anderson, L.G., & Winstone, L. (2026). Is exposure to online misogyny associated with mental health outcomes in girls and young women? A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Women’s Health, 22, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261485065
