Social media use and risky behaviors in adolescents: A meta-analysis

Internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with sociodemographic and psychological distress

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous implications for billions of adolescents worldwide due to school closures, forcing students to embrace internet usage for daily tasks. Uncontrolled use of the internet among adolescents makes them vulnerable to internet addiction (IA). This study aims to determine the prevalence of IA among adolescents and assess its association with sociodemographic factors, smartphone use, and psychological distress during the pandemic.

Method

A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was conducted among students aged 13-17 from May 15th, 2021, until May 30th, 2021, using the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaires, as well as a sociodemographic information form. The data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.

Results

A total of 420 adolescents participated in the survey. The majority of them (70.7%) were female, with a mean age of 15.47 years (±1.49 years old). About 45.5% of the respondents were classified as internet addicted users. The Chi-square test analysis showed that age (p = 0.002), smartphone usage (p = 0.010), rate of midnight use (p < 0.001), frequency (p < 0.001), duration (p < 0.001) of device usage, and presence of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with IA. Multiple logistic regression showed age (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.00-1.35], p = 0.048), smartphone usage (aOR =3.52, 95% CI [1.43-8.67], p = 0.006), mild or moderate depression (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.36-4.34], p = 0.003), severe or extremely severe stress (aOR = 6.41, 95% CI [2.18-18.82], p = 0.001) were significantly related to IA.

Conclusions

Late adolescence, the use of smartphones, and the presence of psychological distress like depression, and stress were potentially associated with IA. Wise use of smartphones and early identification of any psychological distress among adolescents are warranted, especially during the pandemic.

Association of time spent on social media with youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use in the UK: a national longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Social media may influence children and young people's health behaviour, including cigarette and e-cigarette use.

METHODS

We analysed data from participants aged 10-25 years in the UK Household Longitudinal Study 2015-2021. The amount of social media use reported on a normal weekday was related to current cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use. Generalised estimating equation (GEE) logistic regression models investigated associations of social media use with cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use. Models controlled for possible confounders including age, sex, country of UK, ethnicity, household income and use of cigarette/e-cigarettes by others within the home.

RESULTS

Among 10 808 participants with 27 962 observations, current cigarette smoking was reported by 8.6% of participants for at least one time point, and current e-cigarette use by 2.5% of participants. In adjusted GEE models, more frequent use of social media was associated with greater odds of current cigarette smoking. This was particularly apparent at higher levels of use (eg, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.60, 95% CI 2.61 to 4.96 for ≥7 hours/day vs none). Associations were similar for e-cigarettes (AOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.40 to 5.29 for ≥7 hours/day social media use vs none). There was evidence of dose-response in associations between time spent on social media and both cigarette and e-cigarette use (both p<0.001). Analyses stratified by sex and household income found similar associations for cigarettes; however, for e-cigarettes associations were concentrated among males and those from higher household income groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media use is associated with increased risk of cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use. There is a need for greater research on this issue as well as potential policy responses.

Fear of missing out and problematic social media use: A serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem

Background and aim

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is consistently associated with problematic social media use (PSMU). Moreover, previous studies have shown a significant association between FoMO, self-esteem, and social comparison. However, there is a lack of studies that have investigated the relationship between, FoMO, social comparison, self-esteem, and PSMU in an integrated model. The present study hypothesized that FoMO may influence PSMU through the serial mediating role of social comparison and self-esteem.

Method

A cross-sectional survey study was conducted comprising 256 Italian university students (74.4% female), aged 18 to 38 years (M = 23.05 years; SD = 3.58). The participants completed an online survey assessing the variables of the study.

Results

Controlling for age and gender, the results showed positive associations between FoMO, social comparison, and PSMU, and a negative association between FoMO and self-esteem. Self-esteem was also negatively associated with PSMU. It was also found that social comparison and self-esteem sequentially mediated the association between FoMO and PSMU.

Conclusions

The present study contributes to understanding the mechanisms that underline the complex effects of FoMO on PSMU.

Social media threats and health among adolescents: evidence from the health behaviour in school-aged children study

BACKGROUND

Social media are immensely popular among adolescents. Thus, concerns have been raised about the threats adolescents encounter on social media and the possible negative health consequences, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. This study investigated the prevalence of nine social media threats: (1) cyberbullying, (2) sexual harassment, (3) racism, (4) unauthorized distribution of sensitive material, (5) phishing attempts, (6) misinformation, (7) the sale or distribution of drugs, (8) harmful or dangerous social media challenges, (9) content causing appearance pressures. The study also investigated how individual and social factors, problematic social media use (PSMU), and online communication with strangers are associated with social media threat exposure, as well as the association between social media threats and self-rated health, depressive feelings, and anxiety symptoms.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) data from Finland were obtained from 2288 respondents aged 11, 13, and 15 years. Fixed effects regression models were applied. The most common threat, encountered daily and weekly, was misinformation. Regression models showed that individual and social factors, PSMU, and online communication with strangers explained adolescent exposure to social media threats in differing ways. Furthermore, certain factors (e.g., emotional intelligence, family support) were associated with encountering social media threats less frequently, whereas other factors (e.g., PSMU, online communication with strangers) were associated with more frequent encounters. Daily and weekly exposure to social media threats was systematically associated with poor self-rated health, frequent depressive feelings, and anxiety symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the need for intervention and health promotion efforts to mitigate adolescent exposure to social media threats and ensuing negative health consequences.

A comparative analysis of adolescents' emotions and emotion regulation strategies when witnessing different cyberbullying scenarios

The search for greater popularity and acceptance by peers increases the use of social networks that may cause cyberbullying. The high number of adolescents who observe this phenomenon may help reduce the negative impact on the victims. Emotion regulation is an important predictor of adolescents' psychological adjustment and social competence to adopt a prosocial behavior. Bystanders of these incidents may misinterpret what they see, due to specific cyberbullying characteristics which may influence emotion regulation negatively. Studies about emotions and emotion regulations in bystanders are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the emotional reactions and emotional regulation strategies of bystanders while witnessing various cyberbullying scenarios (posting photographs, direct threats, offences to integrity, threats to share personal information), as well as to focus on different behavior, victim characteristics, aggressor traits, and spectator reactions. A convenience sample of 143 adolescents (from 12 to 17 years old) was used. Results showed that worry and sadness were the most expressed emotions in all scenarios (mainly for girls) and posting a photograph was considered more concerning for girls and boys both. To regulate emotions, participants used distraction (especially seven graders) and rumination strategies. Nonetheless, when posting a photo without permission, they all adopted prosocial behavior (boys and girls) because they considered it more serious. Seventh graders adopted less prosocial behavior than eighth graders. In short, girls were more prosocial than boys. Boys may have more difficulty in regulating emotions properly and it may contribute to not intervening. Also, younger adolescents may have experienced less emotional maturity. Therefore, developing programs based on socio-emotional skills, which increase awareness of the seriousness of cyberbullying, can teach youth how to deal with emotions in order to regulate them effectively, thus increasing emotional maturity.

Digital media use, depressive symptoms and support for violent radicalization among young Canadians: a latent profile analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the prominent role that digital media play in the lives and mental health of young people as well as in violent radicalization (VR) processes, empirical research aimed to investigate the association between Internet use, depressive symptoms and support for VR among young people is scant. We adopt a person-centered approach to investigate patterns of digital media use and their association with depressive symptoms and support for VR.

METHODS

A sample of 2,324 Canadian young people (Mage = 30.10; SDage = 5.44 ; 59% women) responded to an online questionnaire. We used latent profile analysis to identify patterns of digital media use and linear regression to estimate the associations between class membership, depressive symptoms and support for VR.

RESULTS

We identified four classes of individuals with regards to digital media use, named Average Internet Use/Institutional trust, Average internet use/Undifferentiated Trust, Limited Internet Use/Low Trust and Online Relational and Political Engagement/Social Media Trust. Linear regression indicated that individuals in the Online Relational and Political Engagement/Social Media Trust and Average Internet Use/Institutional trust profiles reported the highest and lowest scores of both depression and support for VR, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential to tailor prevention and intervention efforts to mitigate risks of VR to the specific needs and experiences of different groups in society, within a socio-ecological perspective. Prevention should consider both strengths and risks of digital media use and simulteaneously target both online and offline experiences and networks, with a focus on the sociopolitical and relational/emotional components of Internet use.

Association between mukbang and cookbang viewing and body image perception and BMI in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a critical period for establishing healthy eating habits and weight management, essential for preventing obesity and promoting overall health. This study investigates the impact of mukbang and cookbang-popular online broadcasts in Korea that feature excessive consumption of food-on the dietary habits and body image perception of Korean adolescents. With digital media, especially platforms like YouTube, becoming an integral part of daily life, these broadcasts have the potential to significantly influence adolescent health behaviors.

METHODS

Employing data from the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2022), this descriptive survey research explores the relationship between watching mukbang and cookbang and various health-related factors among adolescents. The survey's comprehensive dataset provided a unique opportunity to examine this association in a population that is increasingly exposed to digital media content. The analysis focused on the frequency of watching mukbang and cookbang, their impact on eating habits, body mass index (BMI), body shape perception, and body image distortion among adolescents.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant engagement with mukbang and cookbang among adolescents, with notable gender differences in viewing habits and effects. Increased frequency of viewing was associated with negative impacts on eating habits and body image perception. Furthermore, psychological factors such as stress levels and sleep quality emerged as significant predictors of the frequency of watching these broadcasts.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the need for further investigation into the causal relationships between mukbang and cookbang viewership and adolescent health outcomes. The findings suggest the importance of developing targeted interventions to mitigate the negative influences of such content on adolescents' eating habits and body perceptions. Given the widespread popularity of these broadcasts, it is crucial to address their potential health implications through public health strategies, educational content, and policy development aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles among adolescents.

Relationship between social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness in Turkish adolescents

PURPOSE

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness in adolescents.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study was conducted in a relational-cross-sectional-descriptive model. The population of the study consists of high schools located in a provincial center in the eastern of Turkey. Cluster sampling method was applied, and the study was completed with 1009 adolescents. The research data were collected by using personal information form, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and Adolescents' Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale.

RESULTS

It was determined that the mean scores of adolescents' social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness were at a moderate level. It was determined that female adolescents had higher mean scores of social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness. The model established with structural equation modelling was found to be compatible with social media usage time, which was found to be related to the level of social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that there was a significant positive relationship between social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness. Time spent using social media was found to be a predictor of addiction and social media consciousness about appearance.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Pediatric nurses can educate adolescents about the potential risks of excessive use of social media and help them to act consciously. Suggest implementing school-based interventions to educate adolescents, especially females, about healthy social media use.

Longitudinal trajectories of suicidal ideation among child welfare-involved 7- to 12-year-old children

BACKGROUND

Young children involved in the child welfare system (CWS) are at high risk for suicidal ideation (SI) at a time when overall rates of suicide death in this age group are rising. Yet risk factors for and changes in SI over time are poorly understood in this population.

METHOD

We combined data from two large representative longitudinal studies of children involved in the United States CWS. We examined patterns of SI among children who were between ages 7 and 12 years at the initial survey wave (N = 2,186), assessed at three waves using a measure of SI in the past 2 weeks. We conducted a multinomial regression to understand the baseline demographic, child maltreatment, and mental health characteristics that distinguish the trajectories.

RESULTS

There were eight different subgroups (Non-Ideators, Late Ideators, Boomerang Ideators, Delayed Ideators, Desisters, Boomerang Non-Ideators, Late Desisters, and Persisters). Differences in race, type of maltreatment, sex, and mental health symptoms were identified when comparing Persisters (SI at all three waves) to other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings can help researchers and practitioners to develop strategies for better identifying CWS-involved children who are in greatest need of suicide risk monitoring and intervention.

Social media use, effects, and parental mediation among school adolescents in a developing country

Social media use among adolescents is becoming increasingly common worldwide. While social media use has many benefits for everyone, it can also pose risks especially for adolescents, depending on how and why they use it. Therefore, it is an important research and public agenda, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia where there is an increasingly growing social media use among adolescents in these days. This study aimed to assess social media use, effects, and parental mediation among school adolescents in Ethiopia. The study employed concurrent triangulation cross-sectional study design. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used to select 227 participants, including adolescents and parents. Descriptive statistics were used to present, analyze, and interpret the quantitative data using SPSS software version 20.0. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The findings were then triangulated. The study found that the majority (86.3%) of the respondents were widely using various social media platforms for different purposes. Both adolescents and parents reported that adolescents were experiencing both positive and negative effects from social media use, including academic, mental, social, and health related aspects. However, adolescents emphasized the positive effects, while parents stressed the negative effects more. The study also found that many parents were supportive of their children's social media use for educational purposes, but most do not have control over or do not supervise their children's social media usage. The study recommends that the government, schools, parents, and other concerned bodies work together to improve understanding of and promote safe social media usage among adolescents.

Keeping you connected or keeping you addicted? Weekly use of social media platforms is associated with hazardous alcohol use and problem gambling among adults

AIMS

A wide variety of social media platforms exist, each offering tailored solutions to attract specific target audiences based on their social media needs and interests. This diversity may pose a risk factor for the development or perpetuation of harmful behaviors. Research has established a connection between social media use and increased health risk behaviors. This six-wave exploratory longitudinal study investigated the associations between active social media use, hazardous alcohol use, and problem gambling among adult social media users.

METHODS

Data were collected via surveys in 6-month intervals, starting in March-April 2021 (T1: N = 1530; Mage = 46.67; SD = 16.42; 50.33% male). Of the T1 respondents, 58.10% participated in T6 (n = 889). Measures included the frequency of use of different social media platforms, the 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Hybrid multilevel regression models were used for analyses.

RESULTS

We found positive within-person effects of weekly Facebook use and between-person effects of weekly use of Facebook, TikTok, and gambling-related online communities on drinking. These results suggest an increase in hazardous alcohol consumption over time among the platforms' active users. Weekly Instagram use had a negative between-person effect on hazardous alcohol use. Individuals using TikTok or gambling communities weekly were more prone to problem gambling compared to non-weekly users.

CONCLUSIONS

There are risks involved in the active use of some social media services among adult users. Prevention work, including digital health interventions, should be targeted according to the appropriate user group.

Problematic situations related to social media use and competencies to prevent them: results of a Delphi study

A three-round Delphi method was used to study the problematic situations that adolescents may encounter when using the social media, and the competencies needed to address these situations. A panel of Finnish experts (N = 22) provided an open-ended list of problematic situations and competencies in 2020-2021. These were then evaluated and ranked according to their significance. The experts provided an information-rich list of both problematic situations and competencies. Finally, 16 problematic situations and 19 competencies were ranked in order of importance by the experts. The most important problematic situations were direct and indirect cyberbullying and sexual harassment. The most important competencies were the ability to act responsibly, knowing what kinds of activity are prohibited, and knowing whom to contact on exposure to cyberbullying or harassment. The findings can be used in developing policies, recommendations, and solutions aimed at counteracting the harmful effects of social media on wellbeing during adolescence.

The Impact of Social Media Use on Sleep and Mental Health in Youth: a Scoping Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Social media use (SMU) and other internet-based technologies are ubiquitous in today's interconnected society, with young people being among the commonest users. Previous literature tends to support that SMU is associated with poor sleep and mental health issues in youth, despite some conflicting findings. In this scoping review, we summarized relevant studies published within the past 3 years, highlighted the impacts of SMU on sleep and mental health in youth, while also examined the possible underlying mechanisms involved. Future direction and intervention on rational use of SMU was discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Both cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort studies demonstrated the negative impacts of SMU on sleep and mental health, with preliminary evidence indicating potential benefits especially during the COVID period at which social restriction was common. However, the limited longitudinal research has hindered the establishment of directionality and causality in the association among SMU, sleep, and mental health. Recent studies have made advances with a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of SMU on sleep and mental health in youth, which is of public health importance and will contribute to improving sleep and mental health outcomes while promoting rational and beneficial SMU. Future research should include the implementation of cohort studies with representative samples to investigate the directionality and causality of the complex relationships among SMU, sleep, and mental health; the use of validated questionnaires and objective measurements; and the design of randomized controlled interventional trials to reduce overall and problematic SMU that will ultimately enhance sleep and mental health outcomes in youth.

Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non-use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart

INTRODUCTION

Qualitative research aimed at understanding the decline in youth drinking has so far been hampered by a lack of baseline data for comparison. This New Zealand study overcomes this limitation by comparing archival qualitative data collected at the height of youth drinking (1999-2001) with contemporary data collected for this study (June-October 2022). The aim is to explore changes in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non-use) for two cohorts about 20 years apart.

METHODS

Both archival and contemporary data were collected from 14 to 17 year old secondary school students (years 10-12) through individual and small-group/pair interviews in matched suburban co-ed schools. Interviews explored friendships, lifestyles, romantic relationships and experiences and perceptions of substance use and non-use.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Comparative analysis highlighted changes that may help to explain the decline in youth drinking, including an increased value placed on personal choice and acceptance of diversity; decreased face-to-face socialising and the emergence of social media as a central feature of adolescent social life, perhaps displacing key functions of drinking and partying; increased pervasiveness of risk discourses and increased awareness of health and social risks of alcohol; and increased framing of alcohol use as a coping mechanism by both drinkers and non-drinkers.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, these changes appear to have shifted the social position of drinking from an almost compulsory component of adolescent social life in 1999-2001, to an optional activity that many contemporary adolescents perceive to have high risks and few benefits.

Denial, Attention-Seeking, and Posting Online While Intoxicated: Three Key Predictors of Collegiate Sadfishing

Sadfishing, or the exaggeration of one's emotional state online to generate sympathy, is a maladaptive behavior that can negatively affect mental health. A better understanding of the characteristics of individuals who sadfish could inform tailored interventions to decrease sadfishing and improve quality of life. However, to date, the phenomenon of sadfishing remains understudied. Thus, the current project was designed to identify some of the key psychological and behavioral characteristics that may be associated with sadfishing. Undergraduate college students (N = 374) recruited from introductory psychology courses at a large, Hispanic-serving institution completed an anonymous online survey assessing sadfishing and other online behaviors, psychological characteristics (coping, stress, resilience, and social support), and alcohol use. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. Results of the binary logistic regression analysis found that students who reported using denial as a coping strategy (p = 0.005), who endorsed the attention-seeking behaviors associated with histrionic personality disorder (p = 0.021), and who used social media while intoxicated (p = 0.017) were most likely to report sadfishing. This study furthers our knowledge of the maladaptive online behavior of sadfishing and identifies several key predictors that could become targets for tailored interventions. In particular, our results highlight the importance of coping skills training for individuals who sadfish.

The significance of information variables in polydrug use by adolescents: insights from a cross-sectional study in Tarragona (Spain)

Substance use, especially among adolescents, is a significant public health concern, with profound implications for physical and psychological development. This study aimed to evaluate the quantity and sources of information available to adolescents regarding polydrug use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Tarragona involving adolescents with an average age of 16.44 years. This study assessed the number of substances used (alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis) in the past month, along with information sources related to substance use. Monitored sources (e.g., schools, parents, and mass media) and unmonitored sources (e.g., peers, siblings, internet) were distinguished. In addition, four individual and four environmental control variables were considered. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that incorporating variables related to adolescents' substance use information and its sources enhanced the explanatory model, surpassing control variables. The degree of information about substance use did not significantly explain consumption patterns, but the number of information sources, both monitored and unmonitored, did. The unmonitored sources were associated with increased polydrug use. Conversely, greater reliance on supervised sources for information was linked to reduced single-substance and polydrug use. This protective effect increased with an increase in the number of substances used. In conclusion, information obtained from monitored sources acts as a deterrent to substance consumption, consistent with findings suggesting that greater health literacy among adolescents discourages substance use. Conversely, this study suggests that information from more informal sources may encourage heavier polydrug use, aligning with reports indicating that adolescents with a more comprehensive understanding of substance use consequences tend to engage in heavier drug use.

Fun in a Box? Loneliness and Adolescents' Problematic Smartphone Use: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of the Underlying Mechanisms

Addictive smartphone use is one of the most concerning behaviors among adolescents. The present study investigated the indirect effects of self-esteem and boredom proneness and the moderating role of the need to belong on the link between loneliness and addictive smartphone use (ASU). Our sample included 357 adolescents aged 12 to 19 (Mage = 15.56, SD = 1.01, 57.42% males) from ten public schools in Romania. We used a moderated mediation approach, with moderation of the both second mediation paths and the direct effect path. Results suggested that the influence of loneliness on ASU was statistically significant and partially mediated both by self-esteem and boredom proneness. Adolescents' need to belong significantly moderated the positive association between boredom proneness and ASU, and the direct negative association between loneliness and ASU; however, it did not moderate the negative association between self-esteem and ASU. Thus, high levels of the need to belong also increased the influence of boredom proneness on AUS and had a marginally significant effect on the relation between loneliness and ASU. These results suggested that adolescents' need to belong, self-esteem, and boredom proneness might contribute to developing ASU. Interventions centered around countering the adverse effects of excessive technology use ought to consider group activities that facilitate social bonding to satisfy the participants' need to belong, reduce their levels of boredom, and, thus, reduce the risk of developing ASU symptoms.

An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths' interactions with electronic screens

The influence of electronic screens on the health of children and adolescents and their education is not well understood. In this prospectively registered umbrella review (PROSPERO identifier CRD42017076051 ), we harmonized effects from 102 meta-analyses (2,451 primary studies; 1,937,501 participants) of screen time and outcomes. In total, 43 effects from 32 meta-analyses met our criteria for statistical certainty. Meta-analyses of associations between screen use and outcomes showed small-to-moderate effects (range: r = -0.14 to 0.33). In education, results were mixed; for example, screen use was negatively associated with literacy (r = -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.20 to -0.09, P ≤ 0.001, k = 38, N = 18,318), but this effect was positive when parents watched with their children (r = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.28, P = 0.028, k = 12, N = 6,083). In health, we found evidence for several small negative associations; for example, social media was associated with depression (r = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.19, P ≤ 0.001, k = 12, N = 93,740). Limitations of our review include the limited number of studies for each outcome, medium-to-high risk of bias in 95 out of 102 included meta-analyses and high heterogeneity (17 out of 22 in education and 20 out of 21 in health with I2 > 50%). We recommend that caregivers and policymakers carefully weigh the evidence for potential harms and benefits of specific types of screen use.

Subjective norms as a mediator between exposure to online alcohol and marijuana content and offline use among adolescents

INTRODUCTION

While adolescent substance use (SU) may be viewed as normative, SU can quickly escalate leading to consequences. Social media use may increase SU risk. Despite using social media to connect with others, adolescents also view depictions of glamorised SU by both peers and influential figures. Exposure to online alcohol and marijuana content may impact subjective norms (i.e., injunctive and descriptive) ultimately leading to increased offline SU. Data from a multi-wave project was collected to assess whether subjective norms-mediated associations between exposure to alcohol and marijuana content by peers and influential figures on Instagram and Snapchat and offline SU.

METHODS

At Wave 1, participants were 264 adolescents (Mage  = 14.91, 51% female, 86% White, 85% Hispanic/Latino/a/x).

RESULTS

Injunctive norms significantly mediated associations between exposure to alcohol content posted by peers and influential figures on Instagram and Snapchat and offline alcohol use. Injunctive norms significantly mediated associations between exposure to marijuana content posted by peers and influential figures on Instagram, and peers on Snapchat and offline marijuana use. Descriptive norms significantly mediated associations between exposure to alcohol content posted by peers on Instagram, as well as peers and influential figures on Snapchat and offline alcohol use.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Increased exposure to online SU content was more consistently associated with injunctive norms rather than descriptive norms. Future research should examine which social media features (e.g., the like button) contribute to increased subjective norms. Overall, findings suggest that social media may strongly convey approval of SU behaviours rather than actual use.

Problematic Social Media Use and Lifestyle Behaviors in Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

Background

The use of social media by adolescents has increased considerably in the past decade. With this increase in social media use in our daily lives, there has been a rapidly expanding awareness of the potential unhealthy lifestyle-related health effects arising from excessive, maladaptive, or addictive social media use.

Objective

This study aims to assess the association between adolescents' social media use and health-related behaviors.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional research approach and analyzed data from 96,919 adolescents at high schools throughout the Netherlands. A structured 43-item questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographics, dietary and lifestyle factors, and the degree of social media use based on the Compulsive Internet Use Scale. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and lifestyle behaviors while adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

Results

Of the 96,919 included adolescents, 7.4% (n=7022) were identified as at risk for PSMU. Furthermore, logistic regression results showed that adolescents who are at risk for PSMU were more likely to report alcohol consumption and smoking while simultaneously having significantly lower levels of health-promoting behavior such as healthy eating habits (eating fruits, vegetables, and breakfast regularly) and physical activity.

Conclusions

This study confirms that adolescents at risk of PSMU were more likely to exhibit an unhealthy lifestyle. Being at risk for PSMU was a determinant of soft drug use, alcohol consumption, smoking, poor eating habits, and lower physical activity independent of the additional adjusted covariates including demographic variables and remaining lifestyle variables. Future research is needed to confirm this observation in an experimental setting.

Drinking Buddies: The Importance of Proximal Norms in Emerging Adults' Alcohol-Related Private and Public Social Media Use

Exposure to alcohol posts on social media has been found to be associated with emerging adults' alcohol use. An important mechanism through which this association seems to occur are social norms. Thus far, however, research has not differentiated between proximal and distal norms and has not accounted for the private (e.g. Instagram private features, Snapchat) and public media outlets (e.g. Instagram public features) through which these norms might have been constructed. The results of our online survey among emerging adults (N = 789, Mage = 21.46, SDage = 1.88, 56.4% female), therefore, showed that exposure to alcohol posts on private SNS features in combination with descriptive proximal norms, instead of more public SNS features and distal norms, played an important role in emerging adults' alcohol use. As such, future research should focus more thoroughly on the interrelations between SNS private features and proximal normative perceptions and try to better understand on which social cues normative perceptions of proximal other's alcohol consumption are based.

Surveying Adolescents During a Pandemic: Comparison of Adolescents Recruited via Social Media vs. Schools

School-based surveys of adolescents can be logistically difficult and exclude students who do not attend school. Social media recruitment could be a promising strategy to recruit representative samples of adolescents. However, few studies have compared adolescent survey data collected via different methodologies. Our team was conducting a school-based survey when the COVID-19 pandemic closed all schools, necessitating a shift to online adolescent recruitment. To achieve our goal of obtaining a sample of high school students throughout California, we placed ads on social media. We compared the adolescents recruited in schools with those recruited on social media on demographic characteristics, mental health, and substance use. The sample of students recruited in schools (N = 737) and adolescents recruited via social media (N = 953) did not differ significantly on gender or substance use. However, compared with school-based recruitment, social media recruitment yielded a higher proportion of boys, whites, and Asians and a lower proportion of girls, Hispanic/Latinx adolescents, and those who spoke other languages at home. The social media sample had significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms and perceived stress than the school-based sample. Results indicate that social media can be useful for recruiting adolescents for survey research, especially if strategies such as Spanish-language social media ads are used to recruit and consent Hispanic/Latinx adolescents and those with non-English-speaking parents. This method could potentially replace school-based surveys in cases where schools are unwilling to participate in research, or it could be used to supplement school-based samples. Advantages and disadvantages of both methods are discussed.

Parent-child communication about substance use, puberty, sex, and social media use among Hispanic parents and pre-adolescent children

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

Previous research has noted that Hispanic pre-adolescents may be at an increased probability for engagement in risk-taking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore parent-child communication among Hispanic parents and 4th-6th grade children related to substance use, puberty, sex, and social media use.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive design was used to examine Hispanic parents'/caregivers' communication with their children about substance use behaviors, pubertal developments, engagement in sexual risk behaviors, and social media use. The study included two components: four focus groups consisting of 23 children; five focus groups and one interview consisting of 24 adults. All were conducted until data saturation was reached. Parents and pre-adolescents were interviewed separately. Interviews with parents and pre-adolescents were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis techniques.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION

The themes that emerged from the interviews were about children's feelings, parents' feelings, communication messages that children received from their parents, and information parents provided to their children during parent-child communication. The results indicate discrepancies between information that parents provided and information that the pre-adolescents reported. The results have implications for healthcare providers in that parents need to be better educated on communicating effectively with their pre-adolescents about risk-taking behaviors. Healthcare providers may help facilitate parent-child communication with Hispanic families. More research is needed to develop intervention programs for Hispanic parents to learn how to effectively communicate with their pre-adolescent children in a developmentally appropriate manner.

Social media use and health risk behaviours in young people: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between social media use and health risk behaviours in adolescents (defined as those 10-19 years).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

EMBASE, Medline, APA PsycINFO, SocINDEX, CINAHL, SSRN, SocArXic, PsyArXiv, medRxiv, and Google Scholar (1 January 1997 to 6 June 2022).

METHODS

Health risk behaviours were defined as use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems, unhealthy dietary behaviour, inadequate physical activity, gambling, and anti-social, sexual risk, and multiple risk behaviours. Included studies reported a social media variable (ie, time spent, frequency of use, exposure to health risk behaviour content, or other social media activities) and one or more relevant outcomes. Screening and risk of bias assessments were completed independently by two reviewers. Synthesis without meta-analysis based on effect direction and random-effects meta-analyses was used. Effect modification was explored using meta-regression and stratification. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations).

RESULTS

Of 17 077 studies screened, 126 were included (73 included in meta-analyses). The final sample included 1 431 534 adolescents (mean age 15.0 years). Synthesis without meta-analysis indicated harmful associations between social media and all health risk behaviours in most included studies, except inadequate physical activity where beneficial associations were reported in 63.6% of studies. Frequent (v infrequent) social media use was associated with increased alcohol consumption (odds ratio 1.48 (95% confidence interval 1.35 to 1.62); n=383 068), drug use (1.28 (1.05 to 1.56); n=117 646), tobacco use (1.85, 1.49 to 2.30; n=424 326), sexual risk behaviours (1.77 (1.48 to 2.12); n=47 280), anti-social behaviour (1.73 (1.44 to 2.06); n=54 993), multiple risk behaviours (1.75 (1.30 to 2.35); n=43 571), and gambling (2.84 (2.04 to 3.97); n=26 537). Exposure to content showcasing health risk behaviours on social media (v no exposure) was associated with increased odds of use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (1.73 (1.34 to 2.23); n=721 322), unhealthy dietary behaviours (2.48 (2.08 to 2.97); n=9892), and alcohol consumption (2.43 (1.25 to 4.71); n=14 731). For alcohol consumption, stronger associations were identified for exposure to user generated content (3.21 (2.37 to 4.33)) versus marketer generated content (2.12 (1.06 to 4.24)). For time spent on social media, use for at least 2 h per day (v <2 h) increased odds of alcohol consumption (2.12 (1.53 to 2.95); n=12 390). GRADE certainty was moderate for unhealthy dietary behaviour, low for alcohol use, and very low for other investigated outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media use is associated with adverse health risk behaviours in young people, but further high quality research is needed to establish causality, understand effects on health inequalities, and determine which aspects of social media are most harmful.

STUDY REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42020179766.

Social Media Effect on Personal Self-Esteem Among the Population in Saudi Arabia

Background Self-esteem is a self-valuation; it is how people perceive their own worth and how valuable they believe they are to others. In this study, our primary objective was to explore the association between social media use and self-esteem among individuals who actively engage with social media platforms in Saudi Arabia. Method This study involved individuals aged 15 and above who are active social media users residing in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected through an anonymous online cross-sectional survey. Participants were recruited using snowball and convenience sampling method. A questionnaire was administered through Google Forms to collect data from participants. The questionnaire was structured into three sections, which included gathering social and demographic information, assessing personal usage patterns, and evaluating individual self-esteem levels using an Arabic valid version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.  Results The survey included a total of 2,551 participants. Among them, 51.3% (n = 1,309) were female, 29% (n = 741) fell within the 21-25 age group, 95.7% (n = 2,441) were of Saudi nationality, and 51.6% (n = 1,316) were single. The social media platform most frequently used by participants was TikTok 98.5% (n = 2,512), followed by Facebook 95.7% (n = 2,441), Telegram 89.8% (n = 2,291), YouTube 72.2% (n = 1,942), WhatsApp 66.0% (n = 1,683), and finally, Snapchat 30.7% (n = 1,769). In total, 14.3% (n= 366) have low self-esteem, participants scored around 16.10 ± 1.80, ranging from 5 to 25. The following variables were significantly associated with self-esteem: female sex (83.88% vs 87.52%, X2 = 6.87, p = 0.009), nationality (X2 = 13.507, p < 0.001), marital status (X2 = 12.313, p = 0.006), region (X2 = 18.36, p = 0.001), using Tik Tok (X2 = 4.11, p = 0.043), the frequency of posting comments (X2 = 12.01, p = 0.017), comparing oneself to others (X2 = 27.94, p < 0.001), using social media because of weak personal communication (X2 = 6.56, p = 0.010), using social media to follow news (X2 = 6.89, p = 0.009), and the perceived effect of social media (X2 = 16.28, p < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings revealed that a minority of participants exhibited low self-esteem, and individuals from the Northern region were more likely to report such issues. Sociodemographic factors, including gender, nationality, and marital status, demonstrated associations with self-esteem. Additionally, the frequency of comments, TikTok usage, and peer comparison significantly influenced self-esteem levels.

Adults and Family as Supportive of Adolescent Sexual Development in the Age of Smartphones? Exploring Cybersexual Violence Victimization, Pornography Use, and Risky Sexual Behaviors

Among adolescents, engagement in risky sexual behavior is an important public health concern. Research has begun to explore the impact of adolescents' online experiences with their social and behavioral health as approximately 95% of adolescents have access to a smartphone connected to the internet. However, little research has specifically examined how online experiences impact sexual risk behaviors among adolescence. To fill gaps in the existing research, the current study sought to investigate the association between two potential risk factors and three sexual risk behavior outcomes. We examined how experiencing cybersexual violence victimization (CVV) and using pornography during early adolescence was associated with condom use, birth control use, and use of alcohol and drugs before sex among U.S. high school students (n = 974). Additionally, we explored multiple forms of adult support as potential protective factors of sexual risk behaviors. Our findings suggest that CVV and porn use may be associated with risky sexual behaviors for some adolescents. In addition, parental monitoring and support from adults at school may be two ways to support healthy adolescent sexual development.

The Effects of Alcohol-Related Social Media Content on Adolescents' Momentary Perceived Norms, Attitudes, and Drinking Intentions

Research has shown that exposure to alcohol posts on social media can shape adolescents' alcohol-related normative perceptions and attitudes, which in turn play a role in their drinking intentions. However, these studies focused on content in general, neglecting the variety of alcohol posts on social media. Furthermore, they were mostly cross-sectional and studied behaviors at one-time point, thus not considering within-person/daily (co-)fluctuations in exposure to alcohol posts and drinking cognitions. Therefore, this daily diary study among 275 Belgian adolescents (Mage = 15.83, SD = .88, 56.2% girls, 43% boys, 1 X) adds to the literature by examining how two types of alcohol posts (i.e. alcohol-focused vs. friend-focused) differently predict adolescents' normative perceptions (i.e. descriptive and injunctive), alcohol-related attitudes and intentions to drink, both on the between- and daily within-levels. The results showed that alcohol-focused posts but not friend-focused posts predicted adolescents' drinking cognitions (i.e. injunctive norms, descriptive norms, and attitudes) on the daily within-level. Descriptive norms and attitudes also predicted the intention to drink, on the between and daily within-level for attitudes but only on the daily within-level for norms. Overall, the results highlight that specific types of alcohol posts differently shape adolescents' daily drinking cognitions, thereby informing future interventions.

Predictors for runaway behavior in adolescents in South Korea: national data from a comprehensive survey of adolescents

Background

Runaway behavior is reported to impede the growth, mental health development, and social adjustment of adolescents. Exposure to harmful media causes problematic behaviors in adolescents, sometimes inducing them to run away from home.

Methods

This study examined the factors influencing adolescents' runaway behavior. Utilizing the data of 11,354 adolescents from the Survey of Media Usage and Harmful Environment among Adolescents, a hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted using the SPSS 24.0 program.

Results

The significant predictors of runaway behavior were the grade of the adolescent, deviant behaviors (drinking, smoking), autonomous control ability, relationship with family, and harmful media (p < 0.001). This regression model explained 13.1% of the variance in runaway behavior. A significant outcome of this study is that harmful media was identified as one of the factors affecting adolescents' runaway behavior. Adjusted OR and 95% CI of harmful media was 1.23 (1.10-1.38).

Conclusion

This study showed that individual, family, social factors, and harmful media influence adolescents' runaway behavior. The results emphasize the importance of health teachers and the need for early intervention programs, for the identification and prevention of risk factors for adolescents' runaway behavior.

Psychological Difficulties in Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Effects of Spending Free Time with Parents or Using Digital Devices

The present study investigated protective and risk factors for psychological difficulties in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown. Specifically, the role of increased use of digital devices (DDs) for recreational purposes and the role of free time spent with parents were explored. Furthermore, the possible mediating effect of increased use of DDs in the relationship between free time spent with parents and psychological difficulties was tested. Participants were 4412 Italian children and adolescents, divided into two groups: children aged 6-10 years (n = 2248) and adolescents aged 11-18 years (n = 2164). Data were collected in Italy during the national lockdown and questionnaires were completed online by parents, who reported on their children's habits. The daily use of DDs increased significantly during the lockdown compared to the previous period, in both children and adolescents. Additionally, psychological difficulties increased in both children and adolescents during the lockdown, with a more severe impairment for children. Increased use of DDs during the lockdown positively predicted psychological difficulties (children: beta = 0.18, p < 0.001; adolescents: beta = 0.13, p < 0.001), while free time spent with parents was protective (children: beta = -13, p < 0.001; adolescents: beta = -0.12, p < 0.001). For children (but not adolescents), increased use of DDs mediated the effects of free time spent with parents on psychological difficulties (children: beta = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.018, -0.002]; adolescents: beta = -0.003, 95% CI [-0.009, 0.003]). The findings provide new insights for education and research.

The Spectrum of Motivations Behind Watching Mukbang Videos and Its Health Effects on Its Viewers: A Review

Mukbang are videos in which individuals record themselves while eating a specific kind of food (typically food that is low in nutrition) and chit-chatting with the audience through virtual comments about their everyday lives. Since the beginning of this decade, mukbang videos have been gaining popularity all over the world, thanks to the growing popularity of online social media platforms, in particular YouTube. Since a limited number of studies have been carried out to investigate the motivations and effects of watching mukbang on its audience, the purpose of this review article is to analyze the existing body of research on mukbang and to shed light on myriads of the motivation behind watching mukbang videos and its health effects on its viewers. With the help of this review article, we want to bring attention to the importance of conducting high-quality research in this field so that medical professionals are aware of the motivations behind watching these videos and the conditions that may be associated with it. The motivations behind watching mukbang videos cannot be completely categorized into being positive or negative, since it depends on its usage by the viewers. Watching mukbang is significantly more prevalent among young adults. Mukbang offers digital commensality, entertainment, a para-social effect, escapism from real-life issues, and the opportunity for sexual use. On the other hand, excessive use of mukbang has been linked to a wide variety of health problems, including obesity and eating disorders. Since a limited amount of research has been conducted on mukbang, there is a pressing need to place emphasis on the phenomenon of mukbang, and clinicians should be made aware of mukbang in order to facilitate the diagnosis of conditions that are linked to it.

The influence of depressive symptoms and school-going status on risky behaviors: a pooled analysis among adolescents in six sub-Saharan African countries

BACKGROUND

Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding risky behaviors among adolescents remains scarce, despite the large population (approximately 249 million out of 1.2 billion globally in 2019) of adolescents in the region. We aimed to examine the potential influence of depressive symptoms and school-going status on risky behaviors among adolescents in six SSA countries.

METHODS

We used individual cross-sectional data from adolescents aged 10-19 based in eight communities across six SSA countries, participating in the ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study (N = 7,661). Outcomes of interest were cigarette or tobacco use, alcohol use, other substance use, getting into a physical fight, no condom use during last sexual intercourse, and suicidal behavior. We examined the proportion of adolescents reporting these behaviors, and examined potential effects of depressive symptoms [tertiles of 6-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS-6) score] and school-going status on these behaviors using mixed-effects Poisson regression models. We also assessed effect modification of associations by sex, age, and school-going status.

RESULTS

The proportion of adolescents reporting risky behaviors was varied, from 2.2% for suicidal behaviors to 26.2% for getting into a physical fight. Being in the higher tertiles of KADS-6 score was associated with increased risk of almost all risky behaviors [adjusted risk ratio (RR) for highest KADS-6 tertile for alcohol use: 1.70, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.48-1.95, p < 0.001; for physical fight: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.36-1.70, p < 0.001; for suicidal behavior: 7.07, 95% CI: 2.69-18.57, p < 0.001]. Being in school was associated with reduced risk of substance use (RR for alcohol use: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53-1.00, p = 0.047), and not using a condom (RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66-0.99, p = 0.040). There was evidence of modification of the effect of school-going status on risky behaviors by age and sex.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reinforce the need for a greater focus on risky behaviors among adolescents in SSA. Addressing depressive symptoms among adolescents, facilitating school attendance and using schools as platforms to improve health may help reduce risky behaviors in this population. Further research is also required to better assess the potential bidirectionality of associations.

Cross-Sectional Associations of Screen Time Activities With Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption Among Brazilian Adolescents

Objectives: Little is known about the association between specific types of screen time and adolescents' substance use. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the associations between screen time for studying, working, watching movies, playing games, and using social media and frequency of alcohol and tobacco use. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Brazilian adolescents answered survey questions related to frequency of tobacco and alcohol consumption, and reported their daily volume of five types of screen time. Multilevel ordered logistic regression models were performed. Results: Each 1-hour increase in ST for studying was associated with 26% lower odds of smoking (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.61-0.90) and 17% lower odds of drinking alcohol (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76-0.91) in the past 30 days. The increase of 1 hour of social media use was associated with 10% greater odds of smoking (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02-1.18) and a 13% greater chance of consuming alcohol (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.08-1.18) in the past 30 days. Conclusion: The association between screen time and substance use appears to be type-specific. Future longitudinal research is needed to explore causal relationships.

Community narratives on Facebook regarding mobile phone use while driving and road policing technologies

Objective: Mobile phone use while driving is a major cause of distraction and area for concern. Numerous factors have been shown to be associated with engagement in mobile phone use while driving, including peer influences and social media content encouraging the behavior. Phone detection cameras are being increasingly utilized to enforce the hand-held mobile phone use while driving ban in Australia, yet this has been accompanied by an emergence of camera location pages on social media platforms such as Facebook. Research is clearly needed to explore the nature and extent of this online content, since such information can be used to counteract any negative effects on enforcement.Methods: Accordingly, this exploratory study analyzed content on Facebook pertaining to mobile phone use while driving, enforcement of the behavior and legal penalties associated with the behavior.Results: A total of 167 public Facebook posts shared within Australia in January to October 2021 were examined. Overall, it was found that: (a) a large proportion (74%) of posts focused on the location of mobile phone cameras, (b) whilst most discussions centered around discouraging mobile phone use while driving, a large number also aimed to facilitate avoiding detection for the behavior. Finally, very few posts/comments acknowledged the risks associated with the behavior, including the risk of being caught.Conclusions: This research provides preliminary evidence that social media platforms appear to provide an avenue to reduce the likelihood of apprehension. Avenues for future research are discussed.

Internet use time and mental health among rural adolescents in China: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

The digital divide between urban and rural adolescents is widening. Many existing studies have found an association between internet use and adolescent mental health, but few use longitudinal data to focus on rural adolescents. We aimed to identify the causal relationships between internet use time and mental health in Chinese rural adolescents.

METHODS

Using a sample of 3694 participants (aged 10-19) from the 2018-2020 China Family Panel Survey (CFPS). Fixed effects model, mediating effect model and instrumental variables method was used to evaluate the causal relationships between internet use time and mental health.

RESULTS

We find that more time spent on the internet has a significant negative effect on participants' mental health. This negative impact is stronger in female and senior students groups. Mediating effects analysis suggests that more time spent on the internet increase risk of mental health problems by reducing sleep duration and parent-adolescent communication. Further analysis find that online learning and online shopping is associated with higher depression scores, while online entertainment with lower depression scores.

LIMITATIONS

The data do not investigate the specific time spent on internet activities (e.g., learning, shopping, and entertainment), and the long-term impacts of internet use time and mental health have not been tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Internet use time has a significant negative impact on mental health by crowding out sleep duration and parent-adolescent communication. The results provide an empirical reference for the prevention and intervention of mental disorders in adolescents.

Associations between social media use, fitness- and weight-related online content, and use of legal appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and substances

Prior research has documented the connection between social media use and engaging with fitspiration with body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, and various health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use). However, gaps remain in the knowledge base on whether social media use and engaging with fitness- and weight-related online content are associated with the use of legal appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and substances (APEDS; e.g., whey protein), which was the aim of this study. Data from participants ages 16-30 years in Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors (N = 2731) were analyzed. Multiple modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between hours per day of social media use and any engagement with fitness- and weight-related online content in the past 30 days and use of 10 different legal APEDS in the past 30 days. Greater time on social media was significantly associated with use of energy drinks and pre-workout drinks or powders in the past 30 days. Engaging with fitness- and weight-related online content was significantly associated with the use of caffeine, creatine monohydrate, pre-workout drinks or powders, probiotics, protein bars, and whey protein powders or shakes in the past 30 days. These findings expand prior research on the correlates of social media use and engagement with fitness- and weight-related online content among young people and have important implications for healthcare and public health professionals, as well as technology companies.

Peer victimization and adolescent problematic social media use: The mediating role of psychological insecurity and the moderating role of family support

Peer victimization is a serious risk factor for the development of problematic social media use (PSMU) among adolescents. However, little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this association. The current study tested whether psychological insecurity mediated the relation between peer victimization and PSMU, and whether this mediating process was moderated by family support among adolescents. A large sample of 1506 Chinese adolescents (M_age = 13.74 years, SD = 0.98) completed self-report measures regarding peer victimization, psychological insecurity, family support, and PSMU. After controlling for age, gender, and family economic status, results indicated that increased peer victimization was associated with higher psychological insecurity, which in turn predicted a greater incidence of PSMU. Moreover, family support moderated the first part of the mediation process, such that the relation between peer victimization and psychological insecurity was exacerbated for adolescents with high family support. This study advanced the current understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms associating peer victimization with PSMU among adolescents.

Internalisation of stereotyped body appearance standards and body dissatisfaction in adolescent boys: Moderating role of sports participation

The aim of this study was to test the moderating role of sport participation in the mediation model of media pressures, internalisation of appearance ideals and body dissatisfaction in adolescent boys. Five hundred and seventy adolescent boys (mean age 17.2 ± 0.45; range 15-19 years) participated in the cross-sectional study. Adolescents completed a questionnaire consisting of measures of attitudes towards sociocultural pressures on appearance, body dissatisfaction and sport participation (participation in achievement sport, leisure exercising and non-participation in any sports). Sports participation moderated the associations between the internalisation of stereotyped appearance ideals and body dissatisfaction. In athletes, the effect of internalisation of thin body ideals on body dissatisfaction was not significant, while the effect of internalisation of muscular/athletic body ideals was negative. In leisure exercisers, the effect of internalisation of muscular body ideals on body dissatisfaction was not significant, yet internalisation of thin body ideals had a significant effect on body dissatisfaction. The strongest associations between appearance ideals internalisation and body dissatisfaction were found in adolescent boys who reported no participation in sports. Sports participation might be an effective tool in decreasing the negative effect of internalisation of stereotyped appearance ideals on adolescent boys' body image.

Family Matters More Than Friends on Problematic Social Media Use Among Adolescents: Mediating Roles of Resilience and Loneliness

Problematic social media use (PSMU) among adolescents has raised global concern in the current digital age. Despite the important role of perceived social support in adolescents' PSMU has been examined, possible different influences between perceived support from family and friends are still unknown. To address the gap, the present study aimed to examine how perceived support from family and friends is associated differently with PSMU and the mediating roles of resilience and loneliness therein. A sample of 1056 adolescents was recruited to complete standard questionnaires. Mediation analysis showed that resilience and loneliness mediated this association partially between perceived support from family and PSMU but totally between perceived support from friends and PSMU. Further, ANOVA-based analysis showed that influences of perceived support from family and friends on PSMU were mutually independent, and there was no interaction between them. Our results not only highlight different and independent impacts of perceived support from family and friends on PSMU, but also clarify the mediating mechanisms linking perceived social support to adolescent PSMU.

Internet impropriety: Moral identity, moral disengagement, and antisocial online behavior within an early adolescent to young adult sample

INTRODUCTION

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are the most popular medium for social communication amongst adolescents and young adults. However, there is growing concern surrounding heightened ICT use and the activation of influential social constructs such as moral identity and moral disengagement. The importance of moral ideals to oneself (i.e., moral identity) and the distancing of oneself from these moral ideals (i.e., moral disengagement) are often contextual and were tested for differences in online domains compared to face-to-face interactions.

METHODS

Three hundred and ninety-two early adolescent to young adult participants (M_age  = 19.54 years, SD = 4.48) completed self-report questionnaires that assessed online and face-to-face behavior in this cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

Moral identity in an online context was significantly lower when compared to family and friend contexts. Further, moral disengagement was significantly higher in an online context when compared to face-to-face contexts and online moral disengagement significantly mediated the relationship between online moral identity and antisocial online behaviors (i.e., pirating, trolling, and hacking, etc.,). Both of these contextual differences remained stable across early adolescence to young adulthood.

CONCLUSION

Moral identity and moral disengagement exhibit sociocognitive effects within online contexts across ages of early developmental importance. These results may account for high prevalence rates of antisocial online behavior such as trolling, pirating, and hacking within this sample. As social interaction for younger demographics continues to gravitate online, these results highlight that online contexts can influence important personality constructs.

Psychedelic discourses: A qualitative study of discussions in a Danish online forum

BACKGROUND

This study focuses on user-perspectives related to norms, beliefs and practices concerning psychedelic substances as they are articulated in a Danish online forum. The study combines an interest in online drug research with a focus on discourse analysis to account for the dialectical relationship between individual and shared knowledge regarding the use and meaning of psychedelics.

METHODS

A total of 1,865 posts from 154 threads of online discussion were coded and analyzed thematically, inspired by a socio-cognitive approach to the study of discourse. All topics were arranged into 54 categories which were further analyzed to map recurring patterns in the construction of meaning resulting in a limited number of dominant discourses.

RESULTS

Five dominant discourses were identified: the recreational, the therapeutic, the spiritual, the scientific and the performance discourse. We suggest that these discourses can be seen as the available frameworks which forum users draw upon and reproduce when they describe, discuss, and negotiate their understandings and uses of psychedelics.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the importance of having a nuanced approach to user perceptions. Future drug policy and practice development should take these nuances into account and expect significant variation in the motives and modalities of the use of psychedelics.

Relational Competence, School Adjustment and Emotional Skills: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Group of Junior and High School Students of the Sicilian Hinterland

Research has demonstrated the influence of emotional adjustment on the manifestation of problematic behaviors in adolescence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present research is to investigate the role of self-esteem and relational skills on school performance in a group of middle and high school students during the COVID-19 period. The research involved 392 students, aged between 11 and 20 (M = 13.78; S.D. = 2.56). Participants completed the following instruments: an anamnestic constructed ad hoc questionnaire; the Interpersonal Relationships Test, in order to evaluate the perception of adolescents concerning the quality of their relationships in social, family and school contexts; and the Multidimensional Test of Self-Esteem, structured in six scales, which coincide with the dimensions considered constitutive of self-esteem. The preliminary data have shown how the older girls, attending the high school, tend to manifest a higher level of social competence with peer group and teachers. Furthermore, the perception of a reduced emotional self-efficacy but an elevated environmental control and good interpersonal skills seem to predict the school adjustment. Understanding adolescents' perceptions of difficulties and their social support networks can offer some insight into how major social changes can be associated with individual well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of an App-Based Intervention Program to Reduce Substance Use, Gambling, and Digital Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Multicenter, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Vocational Schools in Germany

Vocational students are a risk group for problematic substance use and addictive behaviors. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of an app-based intervention on tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis use as well as gambling and digital media-related behaviors in the vocational school setting. A total of 277 classes with 4591 students (mean age 19.2 years) were consecutively recruited and randomized into an intervention (IG) or waitlist control group (CG). Students from IG classes received access to an app, which encouraged a voluntary commitment to reduce or completely abstain from the use of a specific substance, gambling, or media-related habit for 2 weeks. Substance use, gambling, and digital media use were assessed before and after the intervention in both groups with a mean of 7.7 weeks between assessments. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to test group differences. Intention-to-treat-results indicated that students from IG classes had a significantly larger improvement on a general adverse health behavior measure compared to CG (OR = 1.24, p = 0.010). This difference was mainly due to a significantly higher reduction of students' social media use in the IG (OR = 1.31, p < 0.001). Results indicate that the app "Meine Zeit ohne" is feasible for the target group and seems to have a small but measurable impact on students' health behavior.

An Explanatory Model of Violent Behavior, Self-Concept, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Consumption in Secondary Education Students

Background

Current scientific evidence establishes that regular physical activity engagement provides numerous physical and mental benefits. Thus, the present research aims at examining the relationships between violent behavior, self-concept, and consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. Specifically, two objectives were defined: (a) analyze and establish the relationships between violent behaviors, the different dimensions of self-concept, and the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis as a function of physical activity engagement, (b) define and examine a proposed explanatory model, and (c) analyze the effect of self-concept on alcohol and tobacco consumption and physical activity engagement based on the explanatory model developed.

Methods

For this purpose, a nonexperimental (ex post facto), descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. For data collection, a sociodemographic questionnaire was administered alongside the Self-Concept Form 5 and the School Victimization Scale.

Results

It was shown that individuals engaging in more than three hours of physical exercise per week scored more highly on the social, family, physical, and emotional aspects of self-concept, whilst those who do not meet this criterion scored more highly on the academic aspect and on physical and verbal victimization.

Conclusions

The present research concludes that engagement in more than 3 hours of physical activity per week led to benefits in a number of domains of self-concept whilst, at the same time, increasing levels of violence.

Capturing the bigger picture: A gestalt of general and alcohol-specific social media usage during the transition to college as a predictor of first-year alcohol use and consequences

Previous research has shown a reliable association between social media (SM) use and drinking among college students. However, most studies have investigated SM behaviors (e.g., time spent on a platform, posting frequency) in isolation and on a single site. While some have studied multiple SM behaviors across platforms using person-centered approaches (e.g., latent profile analysis [LPA]), these studies have failed to take alcohol-related SM behaviors into account. This longitudinal study addressed this gap in the literature by using LPA to identify subpopulations of SM users during the college transition (N = 319; 62.1% female) using general (frequency of checking, time spent on, and frequency of posting to Instagram/Facebook/Snapchat; Finstagram ownership) and alcohol-related SM behaviors (posting alcohol, partying, and marijuana content). LPA results revealed three SM user profiles at baseline: low general use with low alcohol-related posting (LGU + LAP), high general use with low alcohol-related posting (HGU + LAP), and high general use with high alcohol-related posting (HGU + HAP). Prospective analyses revealed that HGU + HAP membership was associated with greater descriptive peer drinking norms, alcohol use, and consequences relative to HGU + LAP and LGU + LAP membership. Results suggest that there are distinct patterns of general and alcohol-related SM use during the college transition associated with risky drinking that can inform interventions combating SM-related alcohol risks. These findings illustrate the importance of investigating SM use holistically and suggests studying alcohol-related SM behaviors may reveal differences in individuals' alcohol risk that general SM behaviors might not capture.

The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade?

In many high-income countries, the proportion of adolescents who smoke, drink, or engage in other risk behaviours has declined markedly over the past 25 years. We illustrate this behavioural shift by collating and presenting previously published data (1990-2019) on smoking, alcohol use, cannabis use, early sexual initiation and juvenile crime in Australia, England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the USA, also providing European averages where comparable data are available. Then we explore empirical evidence for and against hypothesised causes of these declines. Specifically, we explore whether the declines across risk behaviours can be considered 1) a 'unitary trend' caused by common underlying drivers; 2) separate trends with behaviour-specific causes; or 3) the result of a 'cascade' effect, with declines in one risk behaviour causing declines in others. We find the unitary trend hypothesis has theoretical and empirical support, and there is international evidence that decreasing unstructured face-to-face time with friends is a common underlying driver. Additionally, evidence suggests that behaviour-specific factors have played a role in the decline of tobacco smoking (e.g. decreasing adolescent approval of smoking, increasing strength of tobacco control policies) and drinking (e.g. more restrictive parental rules and attitudes toward adolescent drinking, decreasing ease of access to alcohol). Finally, declining tobacco and alcohol use may have suppressed adolescent cannabis use (and perhaps other risk behaviours), but evidence for such a cascade is equivocal. We conclude that the causal factors behind the great decline in adolescent risk behaviours are multiple. While broad contextual changes appear to have reduced the opportunities for risk behaviours in general, behaviour-specific factors have also played an important role in smoking and drinking declines, and 'knock-on' effect from these behavioural domains to others are possible. Many hypothesised explanations remain to be tested empirically.

Negative experiences, social exclusion and unwanted attention on social media: exploring the association with adolescent alcohol use

BACKGROUND

Adolescents' presence on Social Media (SoMe) facilitates peer connections making them susceptible to peer-influences and approval. Negative experiences on SoMe can affect adolescent stress and wellbeing, impelling their use of alcohol. This paper provides a novel understanding of the relationship between negative experiences on SoMe and key indicators of alcohol use in adolescents.

METHODS

Data was collected from upper secondary school students (n = 3528, ages 16-19, 45% boys) in Bergen (Norway) using a web-based questionnaire during school-hours in 2020 and 2021. Dependent variables were alcohol consumption, binge drinking and scoring ≥ 2 points on the CRAFFT instrument screening for substance use problems in adolescents. Independent variables were two scales indicating "negative acts and exclusion" and "unwanted attention from others". Covariates included age, gender, country of birth and subjective socioeconomic status. Results are presented as relative risk ratios (RRR), odds ratios (OR) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Using multinomial logistic regression models, "negative acts and exclusion" and "unwanted attention" were positively associated with trying alcohol (OR: 1.50 (95% CI 1.28-1.76) and 1.86 (95% CI 1.66-2.09) respectively, both p ≤ 0.001), with frequency and amount of alcohol consumed. Findings from logistic regression models indicated that "negative acts and exclusion" and "unwanted attention" were positively associated with i. CRAFFT-caseness (OR: 2.13 and 1.86) and ii. frequent binge drinking (OR: 1.55 and 1.89).

CONCLUSION

Both exclusion and unwanted attention on SoMe were associated with indicators of problematic drinking, including frequency, quantity, and consequences related to alcohol.

User satisfaction and the readiness-to-use e-health applications in the future in Polish society in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the rapid expansion of e-health services in Poland. The main aim of the study was to assess the determinants of user satisfaction and the readiness-to-use e-health applications in Polish society.

Patients and methods

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the data obtained through a computer-assisted web interviewing survey in a representative sample of 1002 adult Internet users in Poland. The survey was based on a questionnaire consisting of 55 items. The determinants of user satisfaction and the readiness-to-use of e-health solutions were assessed with univariable and hierarchical logistic regression models.

Results

E-health services had been used by 60.6% of respondents from the beginning of the epidemic state in Poland to June 2020, when the survey was performed. The hierarchical model showed that user satisfaction with e-health interactions was significantly associated with HL (Health Literacy) and eHL (e-Health Literacy), COVID-19-related conspiracy beliefs score, and using a televisit because of acute symptoms not suggesting COVID-19. Readiness-to-use e-health in the future showed a significant relationship with place of residence, marital status, eHL, the self-assessment of knowledge about preventing COVID-19, the use of televisits for renewing prescriptions, and the level of satisfaction with e-health services.

Conclusions

Satisfaction with e-health services depends mainly on the HL, eHL, and conspiracy beliefs of patients. Readiness-to-use e-health in the future is associated with the level of eHL and sociodemographic characteristics, but previous experience with e-health services seems to be the main predictor.