Experience of Peer Bloggers Using a Social Media Website for Adolescents With Depression or Anxiety: Proof-of-Concept Study

Abstract

Background Supporting Our Valued Adolescents (SOVA) is a moderated and anonymous social media website intervention. SOVA ambassadors are adolescents and young adults (AYA) asked to write monthly blog posts and comments on others’ posts on topics surrounding mental health. Objective This study aims to understand the feasibility and acceptability of peer blogging for a moderated mental health intervention website and explore whether bloggers—AYA who self-report symptoms of depression and anxiety—experience potential benefits. Methods AYA aged 14 to 26 years with a self-reported history of depression or anxiety were recruited to the SOVA Peer Ambassador Program. Participants were asked to write one blog post a month and comment at least four times a month on other blog posts, for which they were compensated for up to US $15 monthly. Outcome variables measured at baseline and 3 months after intervention included website usability and feasibility, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, mental health treatment history, cybercoping, personal blogging style, self-esteem, loneliness, mental health stigma, social support, and positive youth development characteristics. Open-ended questions were asked about their blogging acceptability and usability. Results Of 66 AYA showing interest and completing onboarding, 71% (47/66) wrote at least one blog post, with an average of 3 posts per person. A sample of 51% (34/66) of participants completed a 3-month survey for the full analysis. Almost all 34 participants were satisfied with the experience of blogging (32/34, 94%) and rated the website usability as good (80.1, SD 14.9). At 3 months, self-esteem scores increased by 2.1, with a small-medium effect size (P=.01; Cohen d=0.45), and youth competence and confidence increased by 0.7 (P=.002) and 1.3 (P=.002), with medium effect sizes (Cohen d=0.62 and 0.60), respectively. Conclusions A blogging intervention for AYA with a history of depression or anxiety was feasible with regular and active engagement and shows evidence in a one-sample design for positive changes in strength-based assets—self-esteem, competence, and confidence—which map onto resilience.

Social media-based interventions for adolescent and young adult mental health: A scoping review

“…Samples sizes ranged from small pilot trials ( n = 10) to larger scale randomized controlled trials ( n = 136). Most studies recruited young people diagnosed with a mental health condition by a clinician or who scored above a clinical threshold on valid clinical measure ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al, 2020 , Alvarez-Jimenez et al, 2018 ; Bailey et al, 2020 ; Ludwig et al, 2021 ; McEnery et al, 2021 ; Rice et al, 2020 , Rice et al, 2018 ), with others focused on young people with self-reported mental health conditions ( Karim et al, 2021 ; Radovic et al, 2018 ; Watkins et al, 2020 ), a cancer diagnosis ( Greer et al, 2019 ; Pailler et al, 2020 ), and college students ( Asbury et al, 2018 ; Frith and Loprinzi, 2017 ; Yu, 2020 ). The most common study design was non-randomized pre-post trial.…”

“…Notably, five studies were delivered through an existing social media site (Facebook or Pixtori) and the remainder of studies focused on purpose-built networks. This included two studies focused on the SOVA platform, a social media website for young people ( Karim et al, 2021 ; Radovic et al, 2018 ). Seven studies delivered therapeutic content through the purpose-built MOST framework.…”

“…Seven studies delivered therapeutic content through the purpose-built MOST framework. In general, interventions ranged in length from 2 to 12 weeks with some having an undefined intervention period with a follow-up assessment ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al, 2018 ; Karim et al, 2021 ). All studies in the review included a validated mental health measure of depression or anxiety.…”

“… • No effect on anxiety (p = .34). Karim et al, 2021 3 months Strengths-based approach focused on self-disclosure, emotion regulation, meaning making and social support, aimed to increase psychological health and positive functioning. • The SOVA Blogging Ambassador Program is an intervention accompanying SOVA.…”

“…Interventions differed in their theoretical origins with many based on strengths-based ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al, 2018 ; Bailey et al, 2020 ; Karim et al, 2021 ; Ludwig et al, 2021 ; Radovic et al, 2018 ; Rice et al, 2018 ) or positive psychology approaches ( Greer et al, 2019 ; Ludwig et al, 2021 ; Rice et al, 2018 ; Yu, 2020 ), providing psychoeducation and skills/exercises for young people to improve symptoms. Additionally, cognitive-behavioral therapy ( Ludwig et al, 2021 ; McEnery et al, 2021 ; Rice et al, 2020 ), and health behavioral models were also common ( Frith and Loprinzi, 2017 ; Watkins et al, 2020 ).…”