Now been discovered that social media use may be linked to depression and other health-related behaviors in young adults. Researchers conducted a study to investigate this association over time.The relationship between social media use and depression, as well as its connection to other behaviors like physical activity, exposure to green spaces, cannabis use, and eveningness (the tendency to stay up late), is not fully understood.
A recent study published on May 15 in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction by a team of researchers, led by experts at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, aimed to investigate the link between social media use, depression, and other health-related behaviors in young adults over time.
Past research has indicated that high social media use is often associated with high levels of depression. However, the question remains – is this a causal relationship or merely a correlation?Carol Vidal, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains the goal of the study: to determine whether social media causes depression or if depressed individuals are more likely to use social media and spend less time exercising and in green spaces. The study involved 376 young adults in Canada, with a majority being women, who completed three online questionnaires between May 2021 and January 2022.
Participants in the study reported their depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a commonly used scale for measuring depression. They also reported their social media use, exposure to greenspace, physical activity, and cannabis use.
The study found that most participants had at least mild depressive symptoms. The findings showed that those who used social media more tended to have higher levels of depression, and conversely, those who were more depressed tended to use social media more. However, the researchers also found that social media use did not cause a change in depressive symptoms over time.
“According to Vidal, our research revealed that individuals who experienced depression also tended to spend more time on social media.”
The researchers also discovered that increased social media use and higher levels of depressive symptoms were linked to decreased exposure to green spaces. Additionally, they found that cannabis use and being more active in the evening were also connected to higher levels of depression.
The authors of the study suggest that while there is an association between social media use and depression, there is no evidence that increased social media use leads to an increase in depressive symptoms over time. They also note that these findings do not imply causation.The results suggest that individuals dealing with depression should be cautious about their social media usage and should be encouraged to adopt other healthy habits into their daily routine.
Vidal emphasizes that “Staying indoors, not getting enough exercise, staying up late, and using cannabis all carry potential risks.” It is crucial for healthcare providers to educate their patients and for parents to instill healthy habits in their children. Achieving a balance between moderate social media use and engaging in outdoor activities and exercise is essential in today’s digital age.
Vidal and other researchers believe that there are numerous factors to consider when it comes to The impact of social media use on mental health, particularly in youth, is a topic of ongoing research. A recent study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction explores the role of social media use and its associated risk and protective behaviors on depression in young adults. The study takes a longitudinal and network perspective, shedding light on the complex relationship between social media and mental health. The findings suggest that there are important next steps to learn more about its impact on the mental health of people of all ages, including younger children and adolescents.
Journal Reference:
Carol Vidal, Frederick L. Philippe, Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Vincent Paquin. The Role of Social Media Use and Associated Risk and Protective Behaviors on Depression in Youth Adults: A Longitudinal and Network Perspective. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2024; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01313-0The article can be accessed at the following link: 10.1007/s11469-024-01313-0.
