Frequent electronic media communication with friends is associated with higher adolescent substance use

Abstract

Objectives This study investigated the unique associations between electronic media communication (EMC) with friends and adolescent substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis), over and beyond the associations of face-to-face (FTF) interactions with friends and the average level of classroom substance use.

Adolescents drink less: How, who and why? A review of the recent research literature

“…Correspondingly, Canadian teenagers who visited SNS regularly were also more likely to drink on a regular basis [107]. There is also evidence that electronic media communication and frequent internet use both correlate positively with alcohol use by underage youth [108,109].…”

Trends in Screen Time Behaviours in Czech Schoolchildren between 2002 and 2014: HBSC Study.

“…In general, screen time is important contribution to the overall time spent indulging in sedentary behaviour. Several systematic reviews highlight the detrimental effects of being sedentary in terms of physical, mental and social health outcomes (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). In addition, a higher amount of screen time is associated with unhealthy eating habits or higher consumption of tobacco or alcohol (16,50).…”

“…These associations are relatively independent of moderate to vigorous physical activity. In addition, excessive television watching, computer gaming or other e-media use is also associated with risk behaviour such as bullying (14) or alcohol and cannabis use (15,16). However, a few studies also report on positive associations of screen time behaviours in terms of enhanced self-esteem, the formation of relationships and the quality of friendships (17,18).…”

Two sides of the same coin: communication technology, media use, and our kids’ health

“…This methodology is particularly warranted when we want to avoid generalizing the negative effects of some behaviors to media/technology use as a whole, and to disentangle the complex associations between media use and health. Then, as in the example of the studies by Boniel-Nissim et al (2014) and Gommans et al (2014), it is possible to observe how one activity in a specific context and under specific conditions may act as either a risk factor or a protective factor.…”