The Trend of the Toxic Positivity Phenomenon and Its Impact on Mental Health Generation Z: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The phenomenon of toxic positivity is increasingly prevalent among Generation Z, particularly as the use of social media grows, encouraging individuals to constantly project an excessively positive attitude. This situation has the potential to cause negative impacts on mental health, such as emotional invalidation, stress, anxiety, and a decline in psychological well-being. This study aims to analyze trends and developments in research related to the phenomenon of toxic positivity on the mental health of Generation Z through a bibliometric analysis approach. Research data were obtained from the Google Scholar database using the Publish or Perish application with the keywords “toxic positivity” and “mental health” for the period 2020–2025, with a maximum of 500 articles. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using the VOSviewer application through three types of visualizations: network visualization, overlay visualization, and density visualization. The results indicate that the keyword “toxicity” serves as a central hub connecting various research topics, such as empirical studies, individual responses, and mental health contexts. Overlay visualization reveals a shift in research focus from conceptual studies toward empirical research in recent years. Meanwhile, the density visualization results indicate that studies on the impact of toxic positivity remain more dominant than specific and in-depth discussions. This study concludes that research on the effects of toxic positivity on Generation Z’s mental health continues to evolve but still holds significant potential for more comprehensive examination, particularly by integrating theoretical and empirical approaches.