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Paquin V, Ferrari M, Rej S, Boivin M, Ouellet-Morin I, Geoffroy MC, Shah JL. Trajectories of Adolescent Media Use and Their Associations With Psychotic Experiences. JAMA Psychiatry 2024; 81:708-716. [PMID: 38598210 PMCID: PMC11007660 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Importance Adolescent media use is thought to influence mental health, but whether it is associated with psychotic experiences (PEs) is unclear. Objective To examine longitudinal trajectories of adolescent media use and their associations with PEs at 23 years of age. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study included participants from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (1998-2021): children who were born in Québec, Canada, and followed up annually or biennially from ages 5 months through 23 years. Data were analyzed between January 2023 and January 2024. Exposures Participants reported their weekly amount of television viewing, video gaming, computer use, and reading at ages 12, 13, 15, and 17 years. Main Outcome and Measures Lifetime occurrence of PEs was measured at 23 years of age. Covariables included sociodemographic, genetic, family, and childhood characteristics between ages 5 months and 12 years. Results A total of 1226 participants were included in the analyses (713 [58.2%] female, 513 [41.8%] male). For each media type, latent class mixed modeling identified 3 group-based trajectories, with subgroups following trajectories of higher use: television viewing, 128 (10.4%); video gaming, 145 (11.8%); computer use, 353 (28.8%); and reading, 140 (11.4%). Relative to lower video gaming, higher video gaming was preceded by higher levels of mental health and interpersonal problems at age 12 years. Adjusting for these risk factors mitigated the association between higher video gaming and PEs at age 23 years. The curved trajectory of computer use (189 [15.4%] participants), characterized by increasing levels of use until age 15 years followed by a decrease, was associated with higher PEs (estimated difference, +5.3%; 95% CI, +1.5% to +9.3%) relative to lower use (684 [55.8%] participants). This association remained statistically significant after covariable adjustment. Conclusions and Relevance This study found that longitudinal trajectories of media use during adolescence were modestly associated with PEs at age 23 years, likely reflecting the influence of shared risk factors. Understanding the environmental determinants and psychosocial functions of media use during adolescence may help better integrate digital technologies in the prevention and management of PEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Manuela Ferrari
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Soham Rej
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michel Boivin
- School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
- School of Criminology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Geoffroy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jai L. Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Tuck AB, Thompson RJ. The Social Media Use Scale: Development and Validation. Assessment 2024; 31:617-636. [PMID: 37226810 DOI: 10.1177/10731911231173080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Social media (SM) use has been primarily operationalized as frequency of use or as passive versus active use. We hypothesize that these constructs have shown mixed associations with psychological constructs because the factor structure underlying social media use (SMU) has not been fully identified. We conducted three studies with college students. In Study 1 (N = 176), we collected data about participants' SMU, informing item generation. In Study 2 (N = 311), we tested two factor structures: (a) passive, active social, and active non-social and (b) a hypothesized four-factor structure. Neither confirmatory model produced acceptable fits, but an exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor model: belief-based, consumption-based, image-based, and comparison-based SMU. This four-factor structure was supported in Study 3 (N = 397), which was preregistered, via a confirmatory factor analysis. The subscale items showed good internal consistencies, and evidence is presented for convergent validity. These factors represent a novel classification of people's SMU that can be measured with the Social Media Use Scale.
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Jütte D, Hennig-Thurau T, Cziehso G, Sattler H. When the antidote is the poison: Investigating the relationship between people's social media usage and loneliness when face-to-face communication is restricted. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296423. [PMID: 38335211 PMCID: PMC10857570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
When governments mandated lockdowns to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the resulting reduction of face-to-face communication threatened many people's psychological well-being by fostering feelings of loneliness. Given social media's eponymous social nature, we study the relationship between people's social media usage and their loneliness during these times of physical social restrictions. We contrast literature highlighting the social value of social media with a competing logic based on the "internet paradox," according to which increased social media usage may paradoxically be associated with increasing, not decreasing, levels of loneliness. As the extant literature provides opposing correlational insights into the general relationship of social media usage and loneliness, we offer competing hypotheses and offer novel longitudinal insights into the phenomenon of interest. In the empirical context of Germany's initial lockdown, our research uses survey panel data from February 2020 (before the lockdown) and April 2020 (during the lockdown) to contribute longitudinal evidence to the matter. We find that more usage of social media in the studied lockdown setting is indeed associated with more, not less loneliness. Thus, our results suggest a "social media paradox" when physical social restrictions are mandated and caution social media users and policy makers to not consider social media as a valuable alternative for social interaction. A post-hoc analysis suggests that more communication via richer digital media which are available during physical lockdowns (e.g., video chats) softens the "social media paradox". Conclusively, this research provides deeper insights into the social value of social interactions via digital media during lockdowns and contributes novel insights into the relationship between social media and loneliness during such times when physical social interaction is heavily restricted.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Jütte
- Marketing Center Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Gerrit Cziehso
- Marketing Center Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Henrik Sattler
- Marketing & Branding, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Paquin V, Philippe FL, Shannon H, Guimond S, Ouellet-Morin I, Geoffroy MC. Associations between digital media use and psychotic experiences in young adults of Quebec, Canada: a longitudinal study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:65-75. [PMID: 37516683 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02537-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Digital media use has been associated with psychotic experiences in youth from the community, but the direction of association remains unclear. We aimed to examine between- and within-person associations of digital media use and psychotic experiences in youth. METHODS The sample included 425 participants aged 18-25 years (82.5% female) from the community, followed between May 2021 and January 2022 over 3 time points-of which 263 participants (61.9%) completed at least 2. Digital media use was self-reported as time spent daily on TV and streaming platforms, social media, and video games over the past 3 months. Psychotic experiences in the past 3 months were measured with the 15-item Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences. Associations between digital media use and psychotic experiences were estimated using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. RESULTS On average, individuals who reported greater digital media use also reported higher levels of psychotic experiences (r = 0.34, 95% CI 0.15, 0.53). However, a person's variation in digital media use, relative to their personal average, was not significantly associated with subsequent variations in their levels of psychotic experiences, or vice-versa. Results were similar across TV/streaming, social media and video game use, and after adjusting for age, sex, education, sleep, physical activity, and cannabis use. CONCLUSION Individuals with a tendency for higher levels of digital media use also had a tendency for higher levels of psychotic experiences. Understanding this association may help personalize mental health interventions for people with psychotic experiences, which may be offered digitally to promote their accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Ludmer Research and Training Building, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada.
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Frederick L Philippe
- Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Holly Shannon
- The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research and Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Synthia Guimond
- The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research and Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, University of Quebec in Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
- School of Criminology, University of Montreal, and Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Geoffroy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Ludmer Research and Training Building, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Gentzler AL, Hughes JL, Johnston M, Alderson JE. Which social media platforms matter and for whom? Examining moderators of links between adolescents' social media use and depressive symptoms. J Adolesc 2023; 95:1725-1748. [PMID: 37698125 PMCID: PMC10841255 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite extensive research on social media and risks for mental health, not enough is known about individual differences in these risks. METHODS The present study, with data collected from 2018 to 2020, investigated the association between social media use (total and for specific platforms) and depressive symptoms in a sample of 237 American adolescents (Mage = 15.10; SD = 0.49; 51.1% girls and 48.5% boys). We investigated several moderators: gender, self-esteem, personality, and negative reactions to social media. Covariates were gender, timing of the follow-up (pre vs. during the pandemic), and depressive symptoms a year earlier. RESULTS Results indicated that greater total time spent on social media was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. This effect held for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (but not Snapchat, Facebook, or Twitter). Several moderated effects were found. Twitter was associated with more depressive symptoms for girls but not boys. More frequent Instagram use was linked to more depressive symptoms for less or average-level extraverted teens but not for more extraverted teens, suggesting extraversion may be protective. More frequent TikTok use was associated with more depressive symptoms, particularly for teens who said they have more or average-level negative reactions to social media a year earlier. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that certain adolescents may be at increased risk for serious mental health challenges, like elevated depressive symptoms, when using TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter more frequently, underscoring the importance of examining individual differences and particular social media platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Gentzler
- West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | | | - Matty Johnston
- West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Ejaz W, Altay S, Naeem G. Smartphone use and well-being in Pakistan: Comparing the effect of self-reported and actual smartphone use. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231186075. [PMID: 37456126 PMCID: PMC10345932 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231186075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Past work has shown that smartphone use has negative effects on well-being. Yet, most evidence relies on self-reported measures of smartphone use and comes from Western democracies. We examined the relationship between both self-reported and actual smartphone use and well-being in Pakistan, a country that is under-researched in the Global South. Additionally, we investigated the moderating effect of the fear of missing out (FoMO). Methods We conducted an online survey among 427 Pakistani citizens. Participants reported their smartphone use and well-being (i.e., levels of depression, loneliness, and life satisfaction). At the end of the survey, participants were asked to upload screenshots of their respective 'Screen Time' (for iOS) or 'Digital Well-being' (for Android) apps, which we used to measure their actual smartphone use. Results We found a moderate association between self-reported and actual smartphone use (r = .36); on average, participants underreported their daily smartphone use by 11 min. Actual smartphone use was negatively associated with well-being, while self-reported use showed no statistically significant association. FoMO was positively associated with actual smartphone use but not with self-reported use. Finally, FoMO moderated the relationship between self-reported use and well-being. Conclusion Our findings show that the relationship between smartphone use and well-being depends on how smartphone use is measured and is moderated by FoMO. Moreover, we find that mobile data donation is viable in Pakistan, which should encourage future research to use it as a complement to self-reported media use more often.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqas Ejaz
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sacha Altay
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Digital Democracy Lab, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ghazala Naeem
- Department of Mass Communication, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
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Concurrent Validity of Self-Reported Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Associations with Objective Data and Psychosocial Functioning. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-022-10013-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Exploring the relations of subjective and objective Instagram use on young adults' mental health. TELEMATICS AND INFORMATICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2022.101921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Mahalingham T, McEvoy PM, Clarke PJ. Assessing the validity of self-report social media use: Evidence of No relationship with objective smartphone use. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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