Cited by 469Impact of Technology on AdolescentsMental Health via WritingBody Image and Dysmorphia Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 55 of the 55 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 23 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Problematic social media use and depressive symptoms among U.S. young adults: A nationally-representative study

Open access

Abstract

Rationale Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The suggested association between social media use (SMU) and depression may be explained by the emerging maladaptive use pattern known as problematic social media use (PSMU), characterized by addictive components.Objective We aimed to assess the association between PSMU and depressive symptoms-controlling for overall time and frequency of SMU-among a large sample of U.S. young adults.Methods In October 2014, participants aged 19-32 (N = 1749) were randomly selected from a nationally-representative U.S. probability-based panel and subsequently invited to participate in an online survey. We assessed depressive symptoms using the validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) brief depression scale. We measured PSMU using an adapted version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale to encompass broader SMU. Using logistic regression models, we tested the association between PSMU and depressive symptoms, controlling for time and frequency of SMU as well as a comprehensive set of socio-demographic covariates.Results In the multivariable model, PSMU was significantly associated with a 9% increase in odds of depressive symptoms (AOR [adjusted odds ratio] = 1.09; 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.05, 1.13; p < 0.001.) Increased frequency of SMU was also significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms, whereas SMU time was not (AOR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.01; p = 0.001 and AOR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.999-1.001; p = 0.43, respectively).Conclusion PSMU was strongly and independently associated with increased depressive symptoms in this nationally-representative sample of young adults. PSMU largely explained the association between SMU and depressive symptom, suggesting that it may be how we use social media, not how much, that poses a risk. Intervention efforts aimed at reducing depressive symptoms, such as screenings for maladaptive SMU, may be most successful if they address addictive components and frequency-rather than time-of SMU.

Overview

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.03.061

Cites

55 of 55 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 13
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 10
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
20 of 20
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Participants' self-reported estimates of time spent on social media and frequency of social media use are accurate.

    “We first asked participants to estimate total time per day spent on social media for personal use; the item explicitly instructed participants not to include work-related use in their estimates.”
    “Then, a set of items prompted participants to indicate how frequently they visited each of the following eleven social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Vine, Snapchat, and Reddit.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed association between PSMU and depressive symptoms reflects PSMU influencing depressive symptoms rather than depressive symptoms influencing PSMU.

    “PSMU largely explained the association between SMU and depressive symptom, suggesting that it may be how we use social media, not how much, that poses a risk.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The set of covariates included in the multivariable model adequately controls for confounding of the PSMU-depressive symptoms association.

    “controlling for time and frequency of SMU as well as a comprehensive set of socio-demographic covariates.”
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Metadata

Authors
Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., Sidani, J. E., Bowman, N. D., Marshal, M. P., & Primack, B. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • West Virginia University (US)
Corresponding author
Shensa, Ariel
Venue
Social Science & Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-06
Volume
182
Pages
150-157
ISSN
0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2605927993
Cited by
469
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 51 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 6
FWCI
87.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (R01CA140150)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
Keywords
social media addiction, depressive symptoms, young adults, Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, mental health screening
MeSH terms
Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, United States, Odds Ratio, Behavior, Addictive, Social Media

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