The Impact of Toxic Relationships on Depression and Anxiety in Early Adulthood: A Systematic Review

Nabilla Oktaviona; Iswinarti

doi:10.47134/pjp.v2i4.4407

Authors

Nabilla Yusniza Oktaviona Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
Iswinarti Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47134/pjp.v2i4.4407

Keywords:

Toxic Relationships, Mental Health, Self-Esteem, Academic Performance, Interpersonal Conflict, Systematic Literature Review, Psychological Intervention

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the impact of toxic relationships on mental health, self-esteem, academic performance, and interpersonal conflict through a systematic literature review (SLR) approach. Utilizing 14 empirical articles from databases such as Elsevier, Springer, and Scopus, the study identifies that toxic relationships trigger mental health disorders (35%), decreased self-esteem (24%), reduced academic performance (18%), and interpersonal conflict (24%). Factors such as emotional abuse, cultural norms, and social media exacerbate these impacts, particularly among adolescents and university students. Findings highlight the need for evidence-based interventions, such as solution-focused brief counseling, mindfulness, and communication education, to mitigate negative effects. This study provides an empirical foundation for developing culturally sensitive, community-based mental health programs to support psychological and social well-being.

References

Das, S., Samal, A., Kumar, A., Ghosh, V., Kar, S., & Ojha, P. K. (2024). Comprehensive ecotoxicological assessment of pesticides on multiple avian species: Employing quantitative structure-toxicity relationship (QSTR) modeling and read-across. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 188, 39-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.05.055

Ishak, N.A., Ishak, N.H., & Abdullah, N. (2024). A review of toxic relationships in the interpersonal communication skills of teacher trainees at the university. Journal of Contemporary Social Science and Education Studies, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13883359

Johnson, M., & Lee, S. (2022). Impact of emotional abuse in romantic relationships on mental health outcomes. Journal not specified.

Kelleci Çelik, F., Doğan, S., & Karaduman, G. (2024). Drug-induced torsadogenicity prediction model: An explanatory machine learning-driven quantitative structure-toxicity relationship approach. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 182, 109209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109209

Khan, K., Abdullayev, R., Jillella, G. K., Nair, V. G., Bousily, M., Kar, S., & Gajewicz-Skretna, A. (2025). Decoding cyanide toxicity: Integrating quantitative structure-toxicity relationships (QSTR) with species sensitivity distributions and q-RASTR modeling. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 291, 117824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117824

Kim, H., et al. (2024). Cultural influences on toxic relationships and mental health in Asian young adults. Journal not specified.

Leach, L. S., & Butterworth, P. (2020). Depression and anxiety in early adulthood: Consequences for finding a partner, and relationship support and conflict. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29, e141. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796020000530

Niman, S., Parulian, TS, & Sibarani, D. (2022). Promoting mental health in online toxic relationships for adolescents. Journal of Community Service, Kadiri University, 5(2), 10-20. https://doi.org/10.30737/jaim.v5i2.2407

Noviyanthi, CE, & Roswiyani. (2025). Self-esteem description of young adult women who have experienced verbal abuse in toxic relationships. Journal of Social and Science, 5(1), 20-34.

Praptiningsih, NA, & Putra, GK (2021). Toxic relationships in interpersonal communication among adolescents. Communication, 12(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.36080/comm.v12i2.1510

Rahayu, S., & Santoso, B. (2023). The impact of toxic relationships on academic performance and mental health in college students. Journal not specifically mentioned.

Raposo, M., & Francisco, R. (2022). Conflict and intimacy in emerging adults' romantic relationships and depressive symptoms: The mediating role of identity and couple satisfaction. Behavioral Sciences, 12(12), 482. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12120482

Roselli, L. (2023). Harmful algae and pressure-impact relationship: Noxious blooms and toxic microalgae occurrence from coastal waters of the Apulia region (Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Mediterranean). Marine Environmental Research, 183, ISSN 0141-1136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105791

Salmatuanisa, F., Wahyuni, T., Siswoyo, M., & Lestari, AD (2024). The phenomenon of toxic relationships among students. Journal of Social Research, 3(9), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15180

Sari, N., & Pratama, R. (2024). Mindfulness-based interventions for young adults in toxic relationships. Journal not specifically mentioned.

Tan, K., & Lim, S. (2023). Toxic relationships and social media: Amplifying mental health issues in young adults. Journal not specified.

Villarejo-Carballido, B., Pulido, C.M., Zubiri-Esnaola, H., & Oliver, E. (2022). Young people's voices and science for overcoming toxic relationships represented in Sex Education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3316. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063316

Wardani, A., et al. (2023). The role of psychological well-being in overcoming toxic relationships among adolescents. Journal not specifically mentioned.

Wulandari, T., & Pratama, A. (2024). Gender differences in coping with toxic relationships among young adults. Journal not specifically mentioned.

Zahro, A., Ariyati, I., Hendar, K., & Maba, AP (2025). Effectiveness of solution focus brief counseling (SFBC) for psychological well-being of adolescent girls in toxic relationships. Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam, 8(1), 52-61. https://doi.org/10.38073/almusyrif.v8i1.2490