How Does Social Media Use Relate to Adolescents’ Internalizing Symptoms? Conclusions from a Systematic Narrative Review

Sarmiento, Irene G.; Olson, Chelsea; Yeo, GeckHong; Chen, Y. Anthony; Toma, Catalina L.; Brown, B. Bradford; Bellmore, Amy; Mares, Marie‐Louise

doi:10.1007/s40894-018-0095-2

Cited by 42 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…With regard to the aims of the present paper, the correlational findings provide support to our theoretical proposition that measures of SMU can differ greatly, and as such they capture different aspects of online behavior. The fact that we only detect weak correlations between SMUmeasures fits within the picture of mixed results that we see in the literature (Appel et al, 2020;Baker & Algorta, 2016;Best et al, 2014;Çikrıkci, 2016;Elhai et al, 2017;Glover & Fritsch, 2018;Huang, 2010Huang, , 2017Keles et al, 2020;Liu et al, 2019;Marino et al, 2018;Richards et al, 2015;Rozgonjuk et al, 2020;Sarmiento et al, 2020;Seabrook et al, 2016;Yoon et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…As a result, the research field has shifted its focus to the effects of social media on mental health in particular. Prior reviews or meta-analyses on either problematic SMU or more descriptive and non-pathological forms of SMU report primarily small, negative relationships between SMU and MH (Appel et al, 2020;Baker & Algorta, 2016;Best et al, 2014;Çikrıkci, 2016;Elhai et al, 2017;Glover & Fritsch, 2018;Huang, 2010Huang, , 2017Keles et al, 2020;Liu et al, 2019;Marino et al, 2018;Richards et al, 2015;Rozgonjuk et al, 2020;Sarmiento et al, 2020;Seabrook et al, 2016;Yoon et al, 2019). Most of those meta-analyses yield small, negative correlation coefficients, but these vary depending on specific concepts and inclusion criteria, ranging from −.33 (Yoon et al, 2019, for SMU upward social comparison andIvie et al, 2020, for depression) to .14 (Liu et al, 2019, for SMU interaction and mental health).…”

Section: Operationalization Of Social Media Usementioning

confidence: 99%

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Plurality in the Measurement of Social Media Use and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Petalas

Konijn

Johnson

et al. 2021

Social Media + Society

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On a daily basis, individuals between 12 and 25 years of age engage with their mobile devices for many hours. Social Media Use (SMU) has important implications for the social life of younger individuals in particular. However, measuring SMU and its effects often poses challenges to researchers. In this exploratory study, we focus on some of these challenges, by addressing how plurality in the measurement and age-specific characteristics of SMU can influence its relationship with measures of subjective mental health (MH). We conducted a survey among a nationally representative sample of Dutch adolescents and young adults ( N = 3,669). Using these data, we show that measures of SMU show little similarity with each other, and that age-group differences underlie SMU. Similar to the small associations previously shown in social media-effects research, we also find some evidence that greater SMU associates to drops and to increases in MH. Albeit nuanced, associations between SMU and MH were found to be characterized by both linear and quadratic functions. These findings bear implications for the level of association between different measures of SMU and its theorized relationship with other dependent variables of interest in media-effects research.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Operationalization Of Social Media Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Plurality in the Measurement of Social Media Use and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Petalas

Konijn

Johnson

et al. 2021

Social Media + Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Findings of this study are consistent with recent systematic reviews [51,52] that highlight the association between CMC and loneliness, along with anxiety and depression. This observed association could be explained through the features of CMC that are inherently different from face-to-face contact [11,53].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

The role of family and computer-mediated communication in adolescent loneliness

et al. 2019

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Adolescence is a developmental phase in which feelings of loneliness often increase. It is also a time period during which computer-mediated communication (CMC) is frequently used by youth to communicate with their peers. Strong family relationships protect youth from experiencing a wide range of adversities and mental health problems, including loneliness, and yet use of CMC to contact peers may leave adolescents feeling disconnected and lonely while also limiting the amount of time they spend with their family. This study examines the association between CMC and feelings of loneliness among Canadian youth, with family communication explored as an effect modifier. The study base was the Canadian 2013–2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study used in a cross-sectional analysis (N = 30117; grades 6–10). Random-effects multilevel Poisson regression methods were used to quantify risks for adolescent loneliness among daily vs. non-daily users of verbal CMC (e.g., Skype, phone calls), text/instant messaging and social media CMC with friends. Effect modification was tested via the inclusion of modelled interaction terms. Family communication quality moderated the relationship between daily CMC use and loneliness among Canadian youth. Among youth experiencing high relative quality of family communication, daily use of verbal and social media CMC to contact friends was positively associated with reports of loneliness, compared to non-daily users. Findings suggest that family communication must remain central in societal discussions of youth loneliness, mental health and use of CMC.

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“…A major limitation of current knowledge is the paucity of longitudinal studies. 3,7 Findings from the few longitudinal studies are contradictory, 8,9 and some suggest that prior mental health problems lead to greater social media use. 3,9 A further limitation is that few studies have examined potential mechanisms by which social media may harm health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of cyberbullying, sleep, and physical activity in mediating the effects of social media use on mental health and wellbeing among young people in England: a secondary analysis of longitudinal data

Viner

Gireesh

Stiglic

et al. 2019

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

189

132

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Background There is growing concern about associations between social media use and mental health and wellbeing amongst young people. We explored links between frequency of social media use and later mental health and wellbeing in early adolescents, including mediation of effects through cyberbullying and displacement of sleep and physical activity. Methods Secondary analyses of Our Futures, a nationally-representative longitudinal study of young people in England from age 13 to 16 years. Exposures: frequency of social media use at waves 1 (age 13/14 years) through 3 (age 15/16y). Outcomes: a) mental health: General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) at wave 2; b) wellbeing scores (life satisfaction, life is worthwhile, happiness and anxiety) at wave 3. Analyses adjusted for minimal sufficient confounding structure. Mediation: assessed using khb commands in Stata 15. Findings Very frequent social media use (habitually multiple times daily) increased from 42.6% (95% CI: 41.2, 44.2) in wave 1 to 68.5%(67.3, 69.7) by wave 3. Very frequent social media use in wave 1 predicted GHQ high score at wave 2 amongst girls (odds ratio (OR) 1.31 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.63) p=0.01) and boys (1.67 (1.24, 2.26) p=0.001). Persistent very frequent social media use across waves 1 and 2 predicted lower wellbeing amongst girls only (happiness 0.80 (0.70, 0.92) p=0.001; anxiety 1.28 (1.11, 1.48) p=0.001). Associations of social media use with GHQ high score and wellbeing scores for girls were attenuated when adjusted for cyberbullying, sleep and physical activity, although associations amongst boys remained significant. Interpretation Mental health harms related to very frequent social media use amongst girls and appeared very largely due to exposure to cyberbullying and or displacement of sleep and physical activity. Interventions to promote mental health should include efforts to prevent or increase resilience to cyberbullying and ensure adequate sleep and physical activity amongst young people.

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How Does Social Media Use Relate to Adolescents’ Internalizing Symptoms? Conclusions from a Systematic Narrative Review

Cited by 42 publications

References 88 publications

Plurality in the Measurement of Social Media Use and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Plurality in the Measurement of Social Media Use and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study Among Adolescents and Young Adults

The role of family and computer-mediated communication in adolescent loneliness

Roles of cyberbullying, sleep, and physical activity in mediating the effects of social media use on mental health and wellbeing among young people in England: a secondary analysis of longitudinal data

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