Sunkyung Yoon1, Mary Kleinman2, Jessica Mertz2, Michael Brannick2. 1. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. Electronic address: syoon@mail.usf.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Facebook depression is defined as feeling depressed upon too much exposure to Social networking sites (SNS). Researchers have argued that upward social comparisons made on SNS are the key to the Facebook depression phenomenon. To examine the relations between SNS usage and depression, we conducted 4 separate meta-analyses relating depression to: (1) time spent on SNS, (2) SNS checking frequency, (3) general and (4) upward social comparisons on SNS. We compared the four mean effect sizes in terms of magnitude. METHODS: Our literature search yielded 33 articles with a sample of 15,881 for time spent on SNS, 12 articles with a sample of 8041 for SNS checking frequency, and 5 articles with a sample of 1715 and 2298 for the general and the upward social comparison analyses, respectively. RESULTS: In both SNS-usage analyses, greater time spent on SNS and frequency of checking SNS were associated with higher levels of depression with a small effect size. Further, higher levels of depression were associated with greater general social comparisons on SNS with a small to medium effect, and greater upward social comparisons on SNS with a medium effect. Both social comparisons on SNS were more strongly related to depression than was time spent on SNS. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include heterogeneity in effect sizes and a small number of samples for social comparison analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the notion of 'Facebook depression phenomenon' and with the theoretical importance of social comparisons as an explanation.
BACKGROUND:Facebook depression is defined as feeling depressed upon too much exposure to Social networking sites (SNS). Researchers have argued that upward social comparisons made on SNS are the key to the Facebook depression phenomenon. To examine the relations between SNS usage and depression, we conducted 4 separate meta-analyses relating depression to: (1) time spent on SNS, (2) SNS checking frequency, (3) general and (4) upward social comparisons on SNS. We compared the four mean effect sizes in terms of magnitude. METHODS: Our literature search yielded 33 articles with a sample of 15,881 for time spent on SNS, 12 articles with a sample of 8041 for SNS checking frequency, and 5 articles with a sample of 1715 and 2298 for the general and the upward social comparison analyses, respectively. RESULTS: In both SNS-usage analyses, greater time spent on SNS and frequency of checking SNS were associated with higher levels of depression with a small effect size. Further, higher levels of depression were associated with greater general social comparisons on SNS with a small to medium effect, and greater upward social comparisons on SNS with a medium effect. Both social comparisons on SNS were more strongly related to depression than was time spent on SNS. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include heterogeneity in effect sizes and a small number of samples for social comparison analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the notion of 'Facebook depression phenomenon' and with the theoretical importance of social comparisons as an explanation.
Authors: Kaitlyn B Schodt; Selena I Quiroz; Brittany Wheeler; Deborah L Hall; Yasin N Silva Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Molly E Waring; Mellanie T Hills; Darleen M Lessard; Jane S Saczynski; Brooke A Libby; Marta M Holovatska; Alok Kapoor; Catarina I Kiefe; David D McManus Journal: JMIR Cardio Date: 2019-11-14