Saturday, March 23, 2024

Correlation Between Depression And Social Media

Where To Find Support

Social Media Depression

Anyone seeking support for depression can contact:

  • Samaritans: This nonprofit organization supports people who feel depressed and lonely or have thoughts of suicide. Call or text 877-870-4673 .
  • Anxiety & Depression Association of America : This international nonprofit association helps prevent and treat mental health conditions such as depression. The organization offers free in-person support groups in the United States and Canada, as well as virtual support groups.

Tips For Parents With Social

Regardless of the correlation between social media and depression in teens, social platforms arent going anywhere. If anything, they will continue to increase, offering new ways for your child to engage online. However, there are some things you can do to navigate this landscape and help prevent or reduce the negative impact of social media on your childs mental health.

Modifying Social Media Use To Improve Mental Health Step : Reduce Time Online

A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. But you dont need to cut back on your social media use that drastically to improve your mental health. The same study concluded that just being more mindful of your social media use can have beneficial results on your mood and focus.

While 30 minutes a day may not be a realistic target for many of us, we can still benefit from reducing the amount of time we spend on social media. For most of us, that means reducing how much we use our smartphones. The following tips can help:

  • Use an app to track how much time you spend on social media each day. Then set a goal for how much you want to reduce it by.
  • Turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as when youre driving, in a meeting, at the gym, having dinner, spending time with offline friends, or playing with your kids. Dont take your phone with you to the bathroom.
  • Dont bring your phone or tablet to bed. Turn devices off and leave them in another room overnight to charge.
  • Disable social media notifications. Its hard to resist the constant buzzing, beeping, and dinging of your phone alerting you to new messages. Turning off notifications can help you regain control of your time and focus.
  • For more tips on reducing your overall phone use, read Smartphone Addiction.

    Also Check: How To Deal With Stress And Anxiety And Depression

    The Mixed Relationship Between Social Media And Depression

    Research on the link between social media and depression is mixed, with some studies finding a clear correlation and others finding no link at all. A new study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking examined previous research on the link between social media and mental health issues. Researchers found social media may reduce depression symptoms in some people, but the mental health effects of social media depend on how a social medium is used.

    Recent Studies Suggest A Direct Link Between Social Media Use And Mental Health Conditions Such As Depression And Anxiety

    Is Social Media Worth The Risk?  The Sting

    While some social media platforms are extremely positive for members of the community, many social platforms are starting to be associated with rising mental health conditions including depression.

    Recent research on depression and social media suggests that adolescents and teenagers, who generally use social media more than the population at large, are particularly vulnerable to developing mental health conditions.

    Also Check: I Feel Stressed And Depressed

    What Does Science Say

    Researching the effects of smartphones and social media on mental health is challenging because its a rapidly evolving field. Currently, there are many more questions than answers.

    But among the top questions is whether social media causes depression. And the short answer is yestheres a link.

    Multiple studies in the United States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and China have found that the more exposure an individual has to social media, the more likely they are to experience the following mental health issues:

    A 2018 study that examined social media use among college students found that those who limited their social media use to 30 minutes per day reported decreased anxiety and less fear of missing out, or FOMO.

    A research team led by Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, looked at a significant rise in depressive symptoms, suicidality, and suicide deaths between 2010 and 2015 among adolescents ages 13 18.

    The rise was especially significant among females. Twenge found that teens who reported more time on smartphones and social media were more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than teens who spent more time doing off-screen and face-to-face activities.

    Notably, there were no links to other cyclical factors that usually trend concurrently with depression and suicidality, such as joblessness and economic downturns.

    Skip Social Media At Morning And Night

    Using social media apps first thing in the morning could potentially set a negative tone for the rest of your day. And as research has found using these apps at night could disrupt your sleep.

    Try leaving your phone in another room or a drawer when you go to bed and use an old-school alarm clock.

    Instead of reaching for your phone first thing when you wake up or before going to sleep, start a morning or evening ritual that can get you ready for the day or relaxed before bed.

    Also Check: Depression In Women’s Health

    Social Media And Depression Studies

    Linking social media and depression has been an evolution. In a study conducted in 2013, college-aged students were asked about their Facebook use and depression. The majority of study participants were female and Caucasian American . This study concluded that there was no direct link between social media use and moderate or severe .

    In a 2016 study, over 1,700 adults were surveyed about their social media use and depression. A majority of the study participants were Caucasian Americans and half were women . When accounting for all other variables, a correlation was found between the amount of time spent on social media and increased odds of developing depression. Thus, from this study, it would appear that social media can cause depression in adults.

    Finally, a more recent study conducted in 2018 looked at college-aged students from the University of Pennsylvania. In this study, a direct link was found for the first time between increased social media use and depression/loneliness. The researchers used a different approach to come to these conclusions by using a control group versus a group of students that were forced to limit their time on social media to less than a half hour per day. The study found that the individuals who spent less time using social media were less lonely and depressed compared to their counterparts who spent more time on social media.

    Title And Abstract Relevance Screening

    Social media and mental health/depression

    The search yielded 728 articles of which six duplicates were removed. One author screened the remainder of the articles by title and abstract and a second author reviewed every 25th article for agreement. All authors screened full-text articles and extracted data from those that met the inclusion criteria. The authors met over the course of the full-text review process to resolve conflicts and maintain consistency among the authors themselves and with the research question. Of the total number of studies included for full-text review, 505 articles were excluded. Out of the 223 full-text studies assessed for eligibility, 175 were excluded. A total of 42 articles were eligible for review . A form was developed to extract the characteristics of each study that included author and year of publication, objectives of the study, study method, country where the study was conducted, depression scale used, number of participants, participant age, and results .

    PRISMA flow chart of data selection process.

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    Treatments For Social Media Depression

    Although the cause may be social media, the treatment options for depression are still the same. A range of safe, effective treatments are available for any type of depression.

    Common treatments for depression include medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle and habit changes or some combination of the three.

    Smartphones And Social Media

  • Workshops, Professional Development & Training
  • If this generation is going to be named after anything, the iPhone just might be it: according to a fall 2015 marketing survey, two out of three US teens owned an iPhone, about as complete a market saturation as possible for a product. The complete dominance of the smartphone among teens has had ripple effects across every area of their lives, from their social interactions to their mental health

    Jean M. Twenge

    Teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 24 are the most intense users of social media. Benefits of social media use include enhancing friendships and decreasing loneliness. But there is also evidence that overuse has a negative impact on self-esteem and satisfaction with their lives. And this social media use is also linked to an increase in mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and suicidality.

    • Nearly 90% of 16-24 year olds use the internet for social networking¹

    Social medias popularity among adolescents isnt surprising, since it has been shown to affect the reward centers that are so active in teen brains.

    • An imaging study has shown that these regions are activated when participants viewed images with a lot of Likes.
    • The response is strongest when Likes are on images posted by participant
    • When viewing photographs of risky behaviors ostensibly taken and posted by peers, activation in the cognitive control network decreased²

    The good:

    The bad:

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    Is Social Media Causing Depression And Anxiety

    Depressive symptoms are widespread in the United States, and rates of those

    Depressive symptoms are widespread in the United States, and rates of those found with them are increasing. By 2030, it is estimated that depression will be the leading cause of disability amongst countries with a high-income populace.

    While the theories surrounding the cause of growth in the rates of depressive symptoms are varied, many experts believe it has much to do with the shifting social and technological landscape of our lives. According to the Pew Research Center, amongst Americans, 92% go online daily, and 32% go online near constantly.

    In the last couple of years, multiple studies have begun with the intention to figure out just how social media is affecting our mental health. It had already been found that there is a correlation between internet usage and suicide rates for both men and women, so many focused primarily on social media.

    One such study was conducted by researchers from The Pittsburgh School of Medicine. This study found that the ones who used social media the most were more than two-and-a-half times more likely to be depressed than those who used social media the least. In another study done by experts in Canada and Australia, a direct correlation was found between television, social media, and depression. Other studies have shown the same relationship with anxiety.

    Social Media And Young Adults

    Research Question B Pes And Mental Health

    Social Media, Youth &  Depression

    This section builds on the first research question by aiming to detect how PES moderates the effect of frequency of SNS use and the number of SNS contacts regarding mental health. Provided the non-existing bivariate association in males, the subsequent analysis was not included for them.

    Table shows that among those who reported being active on SNS almost every hour, the effect on mental health was highest for those who simultaneously reported low PES, OR 3.12 . However, the evidence for significant effect modification between the mentioned exposure variables was weak, SI=1.25.

    Table 2 Synergistic interaction effects between SNS use frequency and PES on poor mental health among females

    Also Check: Depressed And No One Cares

    The Link Between Online Social Media And Networking Sites And Depression

    The above research demonstrates correlations between depression diagnoses and the social media experience. However, the important question is whether social media actually causes depression? Is it possible that an otherwise mentally healthy person can develop depression symptoms following high social media use? Unfortunately, pinpointing the direct cause of depression in adolescents and younger adults has proven difficult.

    If social media can cause depression, then the U.S. should have experienced higher levels of mental illness as social-media and smartphone use increased. In fact, a new research review by Abi-Jaoude et al. finds a number of troubling links over the past two decades. For example, social media can alter adolescents body image and social relationships. The effects of social media are especially pronounced in teenage girls. Online experiences like cyberbullying and the normalization of dangerous behaviors can further contribute to social isolation and negative emotions.

    Sleep deprivation is another lifestyle issue that can be exacerbated by heavy social media use. A recent study published in BMJ Journals found that more than a third of the study participants spent greater than 3 hours a day on social media, and over a fifth used social media for at least five hours daily. Most importantly, these same users were more likely to report going to sleep later, waking up later, and being unable to return to sleep after a nighttime awakening.

    Turn Off Push Notifications

    Push notifications keep you looking at your devices. If youve managed not to pick up your phone in a while, a push notification can quickly hook you. You can create a greater sense of agency by turning these notifications off and picking up your smartphone when you choose to rather than when it tells you.

    Read Also: How Many People Have Clinical Depression

    Young People Are More At Risk

    Bullying was a common problem among young people before the internet and social media existed. Whereas the victims of bullying formerly had just one avenue for abuse, social media has now given bullies a second option. Bullies can send out a video of their victim being humiliated, beaten up, or otherwise disgraced with a single click.

    People might flood a peers social media profile, write unpleasant comments, and spread falsehoods. It has led to many of these victims committing suicide in various situations.

    While many colleges have anti-bullying policies and laws governing online student behavior, it can be difficult for administrators and guardians to monitor abusive behavior on social media.

    Worse, victims of bullies frequently feel that if they speak to a parent, teacher, or administration about their abuse, the bullying will worsen. It can make youngsters feel even more alone and prevent them from receiving the psychological support they require to deal with a poisonous and potentially violent situation.

    Social Media Tied To Higher Risk Of Depression

    Doctor: Social media leading to increased teen depression

    HealthDay Reporter

    TUESDAY, Nov. 23, 2021 — The latest in a spate of studies investigating links between use of social media and depression suggests the two go hand in hand.

    “The relationship between social media and mental health has been the subject of a lot of debate,” said Dr. Roy Perlis, lead author of the new study. He’s director of the Center for Experimental Drugs and Diagnostics at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

    On one hand, social media is a way for people to stay connected to a larger community and get information about things that interest them, Perlis noted. On the other, even before widespread misinformation on these platforms was recognized, there was a sense that young people might be negatively affected.

    The new study follows a yearlong look at social media use and onset of depression among nearly 5,400 adults. None reported even mild depression at the start.

    But in multiple surveys over 12 months, depression status had worsened in some respondents, the study found. The risk rose with use of three hugely popular social media sites: Snapchat, Facebook and TikTok.

    As to whether social media actually causes depression, Perlis said it’s unclear which is the chicken and which is the egg.

    “One possible explanation for our results,” he noted, “is that people who are at risk for depression, even if they’re not currently depressed, are more likely to use social media. Another is that social media actually contributes to that increased risk.”

    Read Also: Midwest Center For Anxiety And Depression

    How To Have A Healthy Relationship With Social Media

    Smartphones and social media are neither all good nor bad, but they certainly arent neutral. Plus, it doesnt look like theyre going anywhere. If you understand the pitfalls, you can be more thoughtful about how you engage with social platforms on your devices.

    With informed consideration, its possible to enjoy these tools while maintaining your emotional and psychological well-being. Try these tips for mindful smartphone and social media use.

    Supporting Your Child Suffering From Depression

    Children suffering from depression may be at risk for suicide or self-harm. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to improve the circumstances. For U.S. parents and caregivers, the National Institute of Mental Healths Find Help page is a great place to start.

    If you believe your child has already been harmed by the effects of social media, please contact us for a free consultation.

    Read Also: Can Hormone Imbalance Cause Depression

    Social Media Harmful For Young Adults Too

    A separate study from the University of Pennsylvania and published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that, among 18-22-year-old undergraduate students, decreasing social media use leads to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness.

    Bottom line: Its important to take an honest look at social media use and evaluate how it affects adolescent mental health and what teens can change.

    Social Media And Teenage Mental Health

    A Guide To Understanding Social Media and Depression

    In a recent survey, the most common social media platforms used by teenagers include YouTube , Instagram and Snapchat , compared to their adult counterparts who mostly use Facebook and Youtube.

    Other striking statistics about teen social media use include that:

    • 95% of teenagers have access to a smartphone
    • 41% of teens report constantly being online or on a social media platform
    • About one-third of surveyed teens think that social media has a positive impact on their lives
    • 45% of surveyed teens think social media has neither a positive nor negative impact
    • Nearly one-quarter of surveyed teens think that social media has a negative impact on their lives

    In most of the studies involving social media use and adolescent depression, similar patterns emerge as in studies involving adults. Just as adults can experience depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation and loneliness from overuse of social media, adolescents can experience the same conditions as well.

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