Jacqueline Nesi1,2, W Andrew Rothenberg3,4, Alexandra H Bettis5, Maya Massing-Schaffer1, Kara A Fox6, Eva H Telzer6, Kristen A Lindquist6, Mitchell J Prinstein6. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. 2. Bradley/Hasbro Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital. 3. Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University. 4. Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 6. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The degree to which adolescent social media use is associated with depressive symptoms has been the source of considerable debate. Prior studies have been limited by a reliance on cross-sectional data and measures of overall "screen time." This study examines prospective associations between adolescents' emotional responses to social media experiences and depressive symptoms, and examines gender differences in these processes. METHOD: A school-based sample of 687 adolescents (48.6% girls; Mage = 14.3; 38.1% White, 29.4% Hispanic, 23.0% Black) completed measures of positive and negative emotional responses to social media experiences and depressive symptoms at two time points, one year apart. RESULTS: Higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with more frequent negative emotional responses to social media experiences one year later, whereas greater positive emotional responses to social media were associated with later depressive symptoms. Girls reported overall greater emotional responses to social media experiences, but gender did not moderate associations between these emotional responses and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of examining adolescents' positive and negative emotional experiences in the context of social media use, and the ways in which these experiences intersect with depressive symptoms, so as to identify youth who may be most vulnerable to negative effects of social media use.
OBJECTIVE: The degree to which adolescent social media use is associated with depressive symptoms has been the source of considerable debate. Prior studies have been limited by a reliance on cross-sectional data and measures of overall "screen time." This study examines prospective associations between adolescents' emotional responses to social media experiences and depressive symptoms, and examines gender differences in these processes. METHOD: A school-based sample of 687 adolescents (48.6% girls; Mage = 14.3; 38.1% White, 29.4% Hispanic, 23.0% Black) completed measures of positive and negative emotional responses to social media experiences and depressive symptoms at two time points, one year apart. RESULTS: Higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with more frequent negative emotional responses to social media experiences one year later, whereas greater positive emotional responses to social media were associated with later depressive symptoms. Girls reported overall greater emotional responses to social media experiences, but gender did not moderate associations between these emotional responses and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of examining adolescents' positive and negative emotional experiences in the context of social media use, and the ways in which these experiences intersect with depressive symptoms, so as to identify youth who may be most vulnerable to negative effects of social media use.
Authors: Jacqueline Nesi; Taylor A Burke; Jonathan Extein; Anastacia Y Kudinova; Kara A Fox; Jeffrey Hunt; Jennifer C Wolff Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2021-10-19 Impact factor: 4.791