Association Between Social Networks and Subjective Well-Being in Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Social networks are ubiquitous in the lives of adolescents. This work systematically reviewed all studies which investigated the relationship between subjective well-being and the social networks of adolescents. Twenty-nine articles (out of 1,204 hits) were included within the review. Offline social networks have a positive association between the mood, self-esteem, and loneliness of adolescents but not body image. Nine of the studies investigating online social networks found a positive association on mood, life satisfaction, and loneliness through support seeking and receiving positive feedback. Fifteen of the studies found a negative association between online social networks and mood, self-esteem, life satisfaction, body image, and overall subjective well-being through high investment, passive use, receiving negative feedback, and social media ostracism. There is a need for intervention programs and education for young people, educators, and parents to address the risks to subjective well-being brought about by online social networks.

How do Norwegian Adolescents Experience The Role of Social Media in Relation to Mental Health and Well-Being: A Qualitative Study

“…During the last decade, increases in mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, and threats to mental health such as loneliness, have been reported among adolescents (Bakken, 2018 Asgeirsdottir, Sigurvinsdottir, Allegrante, & Sigfusdottir, 2017). The widespread use of social media has been pointed to as a potential contributing cause (Webster, Dunne, & Hunter, 2020), for example due to reduced face-to-face interactions (Uhls et al, 2014), cyberbullying (Fahy et al, 2016), and increased appearance-related social comparison (Hawes, Zimmer-Gembeck, & Campbell, 2020).…”

Through the Looking Glass of Social Media. Focus on Self-Presentation and Association with Mental Health and Quality of Life. A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study.

“…Our ndings suggest that not only the amount of use on social media should be considered but also the role of self-presentation. A recent review covering the association between social media use and wellbeing among adolescents highlighted among other things the negative association between well-being and social media use through high investment and negative feedback [29]. They also asserted the need for intervention programs and educational programs that could address potential risks of social media relation to subjective well-being [29].…”

“…A recent review covering the association between social media use and wellbeing among adolescents highlighted among other things the negative association between well-being and social media use through high investment and negative feedback [29]. They also asserted the need for intervention programs and educational programs that could address potential risks of social media relation to subjective well-being [29]. Speci cally, they listed improved education and awareness among adolescents themselves, as well as the school as an optimal place to facilitate critical thinking about social media use and potential consequences.…”

“…Based on these considerations, there is a need for further studies investigating aspects of self-presentation on social media and associations with mental health and well-being among adolescents. Based on previous studies indicating the relevance of personal investment and emotional involvement in relation to social media use and mental health [29], one important aspect could be the focus (i.e. focus in terms of the attention and importance the adolescents give to their self-presentation activities) adolescents put on self-presentation on social media.…”

Doprinosi li dnevno vrijeme korištenja medija predviđanju obrazovnih aspiracija učenika na završetku osnovne škole

“…Valkenburg i Piotrowski (2017) ističu kako društvene mreže imaju niz funkcionalnosti koje zadovoljavaju razvojne potrebe adolescenata, poput potrebe za formiranjem stabilnog identiteta, za autonomijom u odlučivanju i djelovanju, za bliskošću, prijateljstvom i formiranjem odnosa. Dosadašnja istraživanja pokazuju kako je korištenje društvenih medija "mač s dvije oštrice" jer donosi dobrobiti za adolescente u pogledu mogućnosti izražavanja misli i osjećaja, regulacije raspoloženja, primanja socijalne podrške i smanjenja usamljenosti, ali je povezano i s depresivnošću, sniženim samopoštovanjem, lošom slikom tijela, usamljenošću, pa i nižim zadovoljstvom životom (Keles, McCrae i Grealish, 2020;Webster, Dunne i Hunter, 2020). Mehanizmi kojima se objašnjavaju pozitivni učinci društvenih mreža jesu mogućnost traženja i dobivanja socijalne podrške i pozitivnih povratnih komentara, dok se negativni učinci vežu uz izloženost negativnim komentarima, uzlaznoj socijalnoj usporedbi, elektroničkom zlostavljanju i pretjeranom korištenju ili pak pretežito pasivnom korištenju (Orben, 2020).…”