Idiographic Network Models of Social Media Use and Depression Symptoms

Rodríguez, Martínez; Aalbers, George; McNally, Richard J.

doi:10.1007/s10608-021-10236-2

Cited by 22 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Across each social and affective wellbeing outcome we examined, there were some people who displayed a sensitivity to social media that was negative, positive, or even neutral. Hence, we corroborate many recent findings that indicate that social media effects tend to differ from person to person (e.g., Beyens et al, 2020;Rodriguez et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Social Media Sensitivity

Vaid¹,

Kroencke²,

Roshanaei³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Research on the effects of social media on wellbeing has been equivocal. Social media impacts people’s wellbeing indifferent ways, but relatively little is known about why this is the case. Here we introduce the construct of “Social Media Sensitivity” to understand how social media’s effects on wellbeing differs across people and the contexts in which these platforms are used. In a month-long large-scale intensive longitudinal study (total n = 1,632; total number of observations = 120,599), we examined for whom and under which circumstances social media was associated with positive and negative changes in social and affective wellbeing. Applying a combination of frequentist and Bayesian multilevel models, we found that the effects of social media on wellbeing were heterogenous, but most people generally experienced a negative social media sensitivity in terms of changes to their loneliness, stress levels, affect and feelings of being accepted. People with psychologically vulnerable dispositions (e.g., those who were depressed, lonely, not satisfied with life) tended to experience a heightened negative social media sensitivity in comparison to people who were not psychologically vulnerable. People also experienced heightened negative social media sensitivities when in certain types of places (e.g., in social places, in nature) and while around certain types of people (e.g., around family members, close ties), as compared to using social media at home or when alone. Our results suggest that an understanding of the effects of social media on wellbeing should account for the psychological dispositions of social media users, and the physical and social contexts surrounding their use. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of social media sensitivity for scholars, policymakers, and those in the technology industry.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Social Media Sensitivity

Vaid¹,

Kroencke²,

Roshanaei³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…The network approach also enables us to further investigate the relationship between loneliness and psychopathology at the symptom level (McNally, 2016;Rodriguez et al, 2022). By integrating multiple psychological constructs (i.e., depression and loneliness) into the same network, this approach reveals associations between specific symptoms of different constructs.…”

Section: A Network Analytic Approach To Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness in Kenyan adolescents: Socio-cultural factors and network association with depression and anxiety symptoms

Rodríguez

Osborn²,

Gan

et al. 2022

Transcult Psychiatry

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Loneliness is associated with negative mental health outcomes and is particularly common among adolescents. Yet, little is known about the dynamics of adolescent loneliness in non-Western, low-income nations. Accordingly, we estimated the severity of loneliness in a sample of Kenyan adolescents and used mixed-effects regression modelling to determine the socio-cultural factors associated with loneliness. We also used network analysis to examine the associations between loneliness, depression, and anxiety at the symptom level. We analyzed data from a large sample (N = 2,192) of school-attending Kenyan adolescents aged 12–19 (58.3% female, 41.7% male). Standardized measures of loneliness (ULS-8), depression (PHQ-8), and anxiety (GAD-7) were used. Our mixed-effects model revealed that female and lower-income adolescents felt lonelier. The perception of feeling alone emerged as the aspect of loneliness most strongly linked to depression and anxiety symptoms. Our findings establish an estimate of loneliness levels in Kenyan adolescents, and identify possible socio-cultural factors associated with loneliness. We found that perceptions of isolation more strongly linked loneliness to psychopathology than did objective measures of isolation or preferences for social contact. Finally, we identify specific aspects of loneliness that could prove to be treatment targets for youth psychopathology; however, further research is needed. Limitations, future directions, and clinical implications are discussed.

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“…However, recent work using a more idiographic, or personspecific, statistical approach suggests that this assumption is ill-founded. By analyzing intensive longitudinal data, which are necessary for these types of idiographic analyses, recent work has found that the association between SMU and well-being varies substantially in both sign and magnitude across adolescents and/or young adults [14][15][16]43]. By harnessing a person-specific approach, these studies allow for a more nuanced understanding of how and for whom SMU has protective or harmful effects, and are better equipped to uncover the complex and idiographic data-generating processes underlying SMU-well-being dynamics.…”

Section: Embracing An Idiographic Media Effects Paradigmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Media and Well-being: A Methodological Perspective

Parry¹,

Fisher²,

Mieczkowski³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Due to the methodological challenges inherent in studying social media use (SMU), as well as the methodological choices that have shaped research into the effects of SMU on well- being, clear conclusions regarding relationships between SMU and well-being remain elusive. We provide a review of five methodological developments poised to provide increased understanding in this domain: (1) the use of longitudinal and experimental designs; (2) the adoption of behavioural (rather than self-report) measures of SMU; (3) a shift away from aggregate use; (4) the emergence of an idiographic media effects paradigm; and (5) the use of formal modelling and machine learning. We focus on how these advances stand to bring us closer to understanding relations between SMU and well-being.

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Idiographic Network Models of Social Media Use and Depression Symptoms

Cited by 22 publications

References 51 publications

Social Media Sensitivity

Social Media Sensitivity

Loneliness in Kenyan adolescents: Socio-cultural factors and network association with depression and anxiety symptoms

Social Media and Well-being: A Methodological Perspective

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