ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND DEPRESSION AMONG U.S. YOUNG ADULTS: Research Article: Social Media and Depression
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Social media (SM) use is increasing among U.S. young adults, and its association with mental well-being remains unclear. This study assessed the association between SM use and depression in a nationally representative sample of young adults. METHODS: We surveyed 1,787 adults ages 19 to 32 about SM use and depression. Participants were recruited via random digit dialing and address-based sampling. SM use was assessed by self-reported total time per day spent on SM, visits per week, and a global frequency score based on the Pew Internet Research Questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression Scale Short Form. Chi-squared tests and ordered logistic regressions were performed with sample weights. RESULTS: The weighted sample was 50.3% female and 57.5% White. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of total time per day spent on SM, participants in the highest quartile had significantly increased odds of depression (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.14-2.42) after controlling for all covariates. Compared with those in the lowest quartile, individuals in the highest quartile of SM site visits per week and those with a higher global frequency score had significantly increased odds of depression (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.86-4.04; AOR = 3.05, 95% CI = 2.03-4.59, respectively). All associations between independent variables and depression had strong, linear, dose-response trends. Results were robust to all sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: SM use was significantly associated with increased depression. Given the proliferation of SM, identifying the mechanisms and direction of this association is critical for informing interventions that address SM use and depression.
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Excessive use of social media platforms has been associated with negative psychological effects amongst young adults.
“The excessive use of social media platforms has been associated with negative psychological effects amongst young adults (Lin et al., 2016).”
From The impact of digital technology, social media, and artificial intelligence on cognitive functions: a review (2023) · cites this paper as Lin et al., 2016
Higher levels of social media use are associated with symptoms of depression.
“A wealth of evidence suggests higher levels of social media use are associated with symptoms of anxiety [3-5], symptoms of depression [3,6-8], decreased psychological well-being [9], lower self-esteem [3], psychological distress [10-12], and loneliness [5].”
From Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
In a survey of young adults ages 19 to 32, more frequent visits to social media platforms each week were correlated with greater depressive symptoms.
“more frequent visits to social media platforms each week were correlated with greater depressive symptoms (Lin et al., 2016).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Lin et al., 2016
Use of social media is associated with depressive symptoms and a decline in well-being among both adolescents and adults.
“Other research has extended this by suggesting that use of social media is associated with depressive symptoms and a decline in well-being among both adolescents (Pantic et al., 2012) and adults (Kross et al., 2013; Lin et al., 2016; McDougall et al., 2016; Shensa et al., 2016).”
From Problematic social media use and depressive symptoms among U.S. young adults: A nationally-representative study (2017) · cites this paper as Lin et al., 2016
Some studies have linked more time on social media to increased depressive or anxious symptoms.
“Although some studies have linked more time on social media to increased depressive or anxious symptoms [10,47]”
From Understanding Links Between Social Media Use, Sleep and Mental Health: Recent Progress and Current Challenges (2019) · cites this paper as [47]
SNS addiction (e.g., preoccupation with social media, excessive use) is associated with lower well-being and depression, which can predict worse physical health.
“SNS addiction (e.g., preoccupation with social media, excessive use) is associated with lower well-being and depression,14,58 which can predict worse physical health.59”
From Social Media Use and Its Link to Physical Health Indicators (2022) · cites this paper as [58]
Cross-sectional and correlational trend analyses appear to show increases in depression rates alongside increased social media engagement.
“Cross-sectional and correlational trend analyses appear to show increases in depression rates alongside increased social media engagement [(9, 11–14); also see (15), for a contrasting result].”
From Does Social Media Use Increase Depressive Symptoms? A Reverse Causation Perspective (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Social media use has been associated with higher levels of depression in young adults.
“social media use has been associated with higher levels of depression in young adults [14]”
From Instagram use is linked to increased symptoms of orthorexia nervosa. (2017) · cites this paper as [14]
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- Authors
- Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., Hoffman, B. L., Giles, L. M., & Primack, B. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine; Department of Pediatrics; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
- Corresponding author
- Primack, Brian A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Depression and Anxiety
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-01-19
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 323-331
- ISSN
- 1091-4269 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4853817
- OpenAlex
- W2300872908
- Cited by
- 1,111
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 88 · 2025: 129 · 2024: 113 · 2023: 140 · 2022: 144 · 2021: 159 · 2020: 149 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 177.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Depression and Anxiety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- D-Scholarship@Pitt (University of Pittsburgh) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R25-MH054318)
- National Cancer Institute (R01-CA140150)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- social media use, depression, young adults, psychological well-being, dose-response relationship
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Logistic Models, Internet, Young Adult, Self Report, Social Media
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