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Cited by 20Impact of Technology on AdolescentsBullying, Victimization, and AggressionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Adjustment Correlates of Social Media Engagement Among Early Adolescents

Swirsky, Jill M., Rosie, Michelle, Xie, Hongling·2021·Journal of Youth and Adolescence
DOI 10.1007/s10964-021-01421-3
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Abstract

Social media engagement is common among adolescents, yet not all adolescents use social media in the same ways or experience the same adjustment correlates. This study examined four social media behaviors (self-disclosure, self-presentation, lurking, and social monitoring) and two time-based measures of social media use (daily number of hours on social media and frequency of social media use) on three developmentally relevant adjustment correlates (internalizing problems, prosocial support, and online peer victimization). Self-report data were collected from 426 middle-school students (54.2% female, 73.6% Caucasian, 11.5% Black, 4.8% Hispanic, 10.1% other ethnicity, mean age = 12.91). The findings showed distinct adjustment patterns among the social media engagement indices, as well as sex and age differences. Neither the number of hours on social media nor social monitoring were associated with any adjustment correlates; however, the frequency of social media use was associated with positive adjustment (less internalizing problems and more prosocial support), primarily for older adolescents. Self-disclosure was positively associated with online peer victimization (girls only) and prosocial support. Self-presentation was associated with higher levels of internalizing problems and online peer victimization, as well as less prosocial support for younger adolescents and boys. Lurking was positively associated with internalizing problems. The findings suggest the need to consider specific types of social media engagement when creating prevention and intervention programs to address adolescent maladjustment.

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  • Online interactions may facilitate social connectedness and allow adolescents to maintain relationships, access communities of shared interest and seek social support during periods of stress or isolation.

    “Online interactions may facilitate social connectedness and allow adolescents to maintain relationships, access communities of shared interest and seek social support during periods of stress or isolation [3, 22].”

    From The Complex and Multifaceted Nature of Social Media: Perspectives From Young Adolescents, Parents and Experts (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Swirsky, J. M., Rosie, M., & Xie, H.
Affiliations
Temple University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Swirsky, Jill M.
  • Xie, Hongling
ORCID
Swirsky, Jill M.
Venue
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-03-20
Volume
50
Issue
12
Pages
2265-2278
ISSN
  • 0047-2891 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6601
DOI
10.1007/s10964-021-01421-3
OpenAlex
W3138566022
Cited by
20
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2
FWCI
5.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Youth and Adolescence (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
social media engagement, early adolescents, adolescent adjustment, self-disclosure, self-presentation, lurking, social monitoring, internalizing problems, social media use frequency, sex differences, age differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Peer Group, Social Adjustment, Crime Victims, Bullying, Social Media

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