Adolescent Problematic Social Networking and School Experiences: The Mediating Effects of Sleep Disruptions and Sleep Quality

Prospective longitudinal relations among frequent social media use, nicotine vaping and experiencing internalizing mental health problems

AIMS

To compare four a priori rival mediated pathways of frequent social media use, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use and internalizing mental health (MH) problems across five waves of nationally representative data.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a longitudinal study using data drawn from waves 2-5 (October 2014-November 2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative cohort study spanning approximately 5 years, conducted in the United States. The analytical sample of participants included those who were aged 12-14 years at wave 2 and who provided data in subsequent waves until wave 4.5 (n = 4627, 69.7% were White and 51.4% were male).

MEASUREMENTS

Frequent social media use (several times a day), ENDS use (past 30-day use) and internalizing MH problems (endorsed symptoms on four items in the past year) were dichotomized for analysis.

FINDINGS

The weighted proportions of the three key variables increased over time. From wave 2 to wave 5, frequent social media use grew from 56.9 to 77.2%; internalizing MH problems from 18.9 to 29.0%; and ENDS use from 1.4 to 11.4%. In weighted logistic regressions using generalized linear mixed models with random effects, there was a significant within-person association between frequent social media use at time t and greater ENDS use at t + 1 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.47, 2.37] and worsened internalizing MH problems at t + 1 (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.37). A model-based causal mediation analysis and marginal structural models were fitted to estimate the average causal mediation effect. Among all four examined mediation pathways throughout the three constructs, partial mediation was observed, and all the pathways were significant for both boys and girls. Sex differences did not emerge in the examined prospective mediated pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Among youth in the United States, frequent social media use appears to mediate the prospective association between experiencing internalizing mental health problems and using electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Loneliness and problematic social networking sites use in young adults with poor vs. good sleep quality: The moderating role of gender

Despite the evidence of a relationship between loneliness, problematic social networking sites use (PSNSU), and sleep quality, associations between specific PSNSU symptoms and loneliness in individuals with poor vs. good sleep quality and possible gender differences have yet to be understood. We examined the relationships between loneliness and PSNSU symptoms (i.e., preference for online social interaction - POSI, mood regulation, deficient self-regulation, and negative outcomes), and possible moderating effects of gender for individuals with poor vs. good sleep quality. Seven hundred and sixty-three young adults completed an online survey including self-report measures of sleep quality, loneliness, and PSNSU symptoms. Individuals with poor sleep quality reported higher levels of loneliness and greater scores on all PSNSU domains than those with good sleep quality. Slope analyses revealed that in men vs. women with poor sleep quality, greater deficient self-regulation of social networking sites use was associated with lower levels of loneliness. Conversely, in men vs. women with good sleep quality, greater POSI was associated with higher levels of loneliness. Our findings showed that individuals with poor sleep quality are characterized by higher levels of loneliness and more severe PSNSU symptoms that may be the result of sleep disturbance-related metabolic, neural, and hormonal processes. Moreover, our results highlight gender differences for individuals with poor vs. good sleep quality which may help clarify the nature of the association between loneliness and PSNSU.

The association between evening social media use and delayed sleep may be causal: Suggestive evidence from 120 million Reddit timestamps

Public health officials and clinicians routinely advise social media users to avoid nighttime social media use due to the perception that this delays the onset of sleep and predisposes to the health risks of insufficient sleep. With some exceptions, the evidence behind this advice mostly derives from surveys identifying an association between self-reported social media usage and self-reported sleep patterns. In principle, these associations could alternatively be explained by users turning to social media to pass the time when they are otherwise having difficulty sleeping, or by individual differences that draw some people to frequent social media use, or by offline activities that overlap with both social media use and delayed sleep. To attempt to distinguish among these explanations, we leveraged estimated bedtimes from 44,000 Reddit users reported in a recent study and their 120 million posts to test whether the relationship between sleep and social media has properties suggestive of a causal relationship. We find that users are especially likely to be active on Reddit after their bedtime (and therefore awake) on nights that they posted to Reddit shortly before bedtime, especially if they posted multiple times or in high-engagement forums that night. Overall, this study lends additional support to the notion that there likely is some causal effect of evening social media use on delayed sleep onset.

Facebook Addiction and High School Students' Sleep Quality: The Serial Mediation of Procrastination and Life Satisfaction and the Moderation of Self-Compassion

A growing body of research has indicated that Facebook addiction is a salient risk factor for sleep quality among high school students. This study examined whether procrastination and life satisfaction serially mediate the relationship between Facebook addiction and sleep quality and whether this mediating process is moderated by self-compassion. This research uses quantitative research approach to examine Facebook addiction, procrastination, life satisfaction, sleep quality, and self-compassion, in the sample of 280 Vietnamese high school students (Mage = 16.75 years, SD = .0825). Facebook addiction was not significantly associated with sleep quality among high school students. The serial mediator role of procrastination and life satisfaction on the pathway from Facebook addiction to sleep quality was not significant. Moderated mediation analysis further revealed that self-compassion moderated the association between Facebook addiction and high school students' sleep quality. These findings elucidate the role of Facebook addiction, procrastination, and self-compassion in high school students' sleep quality. Furthermore, they suggest that self-compassion intervention programs may be promising to reduce procrastination, Facebook addiction, as well as to enhance sleep quality and life satisfaction for high school students.

The Social Side of Sleep: A Systematic Review of the Longitudinal Associations between Peer Relationships and Sleep Quality

In adolescence, peer relationships become crucial since youths start to rely on their peers for support. Thus, multiple facets of adolescents' well-being are affected by their peer relationships. In this vein, one of the central well-being aspects that could be affected by the peer relationships of adolescents is sleep quality. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how multiple peer relationship factors (i.e., positive, negative, emotional, and behavioral issues related to peer relationships) are intertwined with adolescents' sleep quality. For this reason, this systematic review with meta-analysis aims to summarize longitudinal studies to uncover how the interplay between peer relationship factors and adolescents' sleep quality unfolds over time. Nineteen longitudinal studies involving a total of 21,232 adolescents were included. Overall, findings from this review showed that (a) positive peer relationships and sleep quality were not associated over time; (b) negative peer relationships and sleep quality were bidirectionally associated over time; (c) few studies evaluated the bidirectional relations between emotional and behavioral issues and sleep quality, showing links with sleep schedule and duration, but not with sleep quality. Meta-analytic results were discussed, considering their implications.

Developing Healthy Social Media Practices: An Outpatient Caregiver-Adolescent Group Intervention

Adolescents frequently use social media to connect with peers, develop friendships, and explore their identity. However, some adolescents, particularly those with co-occurring mental health concerns or other vulnerabilities, may experience problems or dysfunction related to their social media use. Navigating online social interactions, regulating one’s own use of social media, and being aware of how content of social media may impact users are important skills that youth need to build in today’s digital age. The purpose of this paper is to describe the rationale for, and components of, a group therapy intervention (Developing Healthy Social Media Practices) for caregivers and their adolescents that seeks to (a) provide psychoeducation about the risks and benefits of social media use; (b) teach youth and their caregivers online social problem solving skills; (c) facilitate caregiver-adolescent communication about online social interactions and other online risks; and (d) promote motivation to change social media practices that youth and their caregivers identify as impacting functioning.

Social media use in female adolescents: Associations with anxiety, loneliness, and sleep disturbances

Social Media Disorder (SMD) is characterised by the intense and excessive use of social media. Although previous studies have shown that SMD was associated with poor mental health, research across types of usage and platforms remain limited. Here, we conducted an initial investigation of social media usage across platforms and its relation to anxiety, sleep and loneliness in female adolescents. Forty one 16- to 19-year-old British female adolescents were administered online questionnaires. Intensity of social media activity across Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter was measured with the Social Media Disorder Scale. Anxiety was indicated by the Beck Anxiety Inventory Trait, loneliness was examined via a short three-point questionnaire and sleep quality was measured via both the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and self-reported seven-day sleep diaries. Results showed that, compared to those without SMD, users with SMD experienced elevated levels of loneliness and had less sleep on average, and during the weekdays in particular. Only frequency of posting on Facebook, but not general usage, was associated with poorer sleep quality. These preliminary findings showed that social media disorder across platforms and usage could potentially have different associations to mental health and sleep.

Problematic Internet use and academic engagement during the COVID-19 lockdown: The indirect effects of depression, anxiety, and insomnia in early, middle, and late adolescence

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition of online learning introduces challenges for adolescents to engage in learning. The increased access and persistent Internet use could heighten the risk of problematic Internet use (PIU) that has been increasingly recognized as a risk factor for academic engagement. This study aims to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between PIU and academic engagement through psychopathological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, insomnia) in early, middle, and late adolescence.

METHODS

In all, 4852 adolescents (51.5% females; M_age = 13.80 ± 2.38) from different regions of Chinese mainland participated in the study and completed questionnaires.

RESULTS

Depression and then insomnia as well as anxiety and then insomnia mediated the relationship between PIU and academic engagement. Anxiety exhibited a double-edged effect, that is, a positive relation with academic engagement directly and a negative relation with academic engagement indirectly through insomnia. Multigroup analyses showed that the indirect effects of PIU on academic engagement through depression and subsequent insomnia in middle and late adolescence were stronger than that in early adolescence, whereas the direct effect in early adolescence was stronger than that in middle adolescence.

LIMITATION

This study was cross-sectional in design and relied upon self-report measures.

CONCLUSION

These findings improve the understandings of how PIU relates to academic engagement through psychopathological symptoms and highlight developmental differences of adolescence.

How is Father Phubbing Associated with Adolescents' Social Networking Sites Addiction? Roles of Narcissism, Need to Belong, and Loneliness

OBJECTIVE

Parents' phubbing has been found to be positively associated with adolescents' internet-related addiction. However, it remains unknown whether father phubbing would influence adolescents' social networking sites addiction (SNSA), and the mechanisms underlying this association stays largely unknown. This study aims to expand previous research by testing the mediating effect of loneliness, as well as the moderating effects of narcissism and need to belong in the association between father phubbing and adolescents' SNSA.

METHOD

In a cross-sectional design, 4,172 participants (2,189 boys and 1,983 girls; M_age = 16.41 ± .77) from 5 high schools in China completed measures of demographic variables, father phubbing, loneliness, narcissism, need to belong, and SNSA.

RESULTS

Results from regression analyses found that (a) Father phubbing had a positive association with adolescents' SNSA; (b) Loneliness partially mediated this association; (c) Narcissism and need to belong concurrently moderated the association between father phubbing and loneliness. In particular, the effect of father phubbing on loneliness was weaker among students with high narcissism, and among students with low need to belong.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings enrich our understanding of how father phubbing may increase the risk of SNSA among adolescents, and underscore the potential importance of reducing father phubbing and loneliness to prevent adolescents' SNSA.

Prevalence and Motives of Social Media Use among the Iranian Population

Background

Around the world, people are using social media (SM) for different purposes following a wide range of patterns. There is a paucity of studies addressing the issue in the Eastern Mediterranean region. In this population-based study, the frequency and patterns of SM use in Iran were investigated.

Materials and Methods

To explore the prevalence and motives of SM use, a sample of 1800 Iranian people aged 10–65 years old (53.5% female) were surveyed. Social media addiction (SMA) was assessed using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale.

Results

The results revealed that 88.5% (n = 1593) of the participants were SM users, and the average time spent by them in SM was 4.0 ± 3.9 hours. The most common motivations for SM use were communication with others (48.9%), receiving news (40.7%), and surfing the net (40.6%). Besides, burning eyes (31.0%), headache (26.8%), and sleep disturbance (25.1%) were the most common health problems experienced by SM users. The SMA prevalence was 23.1% (95% CI: 21.2, 25.1) (males: 23.8%; females: 22.5%), with a higher rate (26.0%) among adolescents and young people.

Conclusion

SM use and SMA appear to be real health challenges in Iran, particularly among youth. Consequently, to decrease the negative impacts of excessive SM use, exploring the motives behind SM use and designing population-based interventions are recommended.

Relationship of Physical Activity and Sleep Duration with Self-Concept, Mediterranean Diet and Problematic Videogame Use in Children: Structural Equation Analysis as a Function of Gender

Engagement in physical activity and sleep duration are crucial to the adequate psychosocial and healthy development of children. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop an explanatory model of the relationships of physical activity and sleep duration with self-concept, Mediterranean diet and problematic use of videogames. Accordingly, a structural model was contrasted by means of a multi-group analysis according to gender. A non-experimental study was conducted with a descriptive, cross-sectional design for a sample of 1154 students aged 11–12 years (M = 11.41 ± 0.49). An ad hoc questionnaire was used to record sociodemographic and physical-health attributes (physical activity time and sleep). Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire, self-concept was assessed using “self-concept form-5” (AF-5) and problematic videogame use was assessed using the “Video Game-Related Experiences Questionnaire”. For data analysis, a multi-group structural equation analysis was performed. The results showed that physical activity was positively associated with self-concept, while sleep duration and self-concept were negatively related to problematic videogame use. In boys there was a direct effect of self-concept on sleep duration and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while girls did not generate such differences. Although there is a negative association between physical activity and problematic videogame use in the theoretical model and in boys, girls showed a direct association between these factors. Finally, physical activity and sleep duration were directly related in boys and indirectly related in girls.

[Measuring adolescents' use of social media: A systematic review]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the methods used to measure social network site use among adolescents. Such a review is important given the number and diversity of sites and the prevalence of their use among adolescents.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines to arrive at an analysis of 58 peer-reviewed studies indexed in PubMed, PsychInfo, or Scopus. To be included in the review, articles had to be peer-reviewed, available in full text, and published in French or English. For inclusion, studies were required to pertain to adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years; to focus on social network site use and indicate how their use was estimated. Studies that simultaneously examined social network sites and general internet use or video games and only provided a combined analysis were excluded. The keywords for the search were: social media use, social media usage, social media misuse, measure, teen, and adolescents.

RESULTS

In the literature, different methods were used to operationalize the use of social network sites: quantitative methods with the measurement of frequency and duration of use of social network sites, and qualitative methods to measure the different activities adolescents engage in on such sites. In this review, 28 articles investigated the use of social media through a measurement of frequency and 22 articles through a measurement of the duration of use. Most of the studies focused on social network sites in general, without specifying which sites in particular were considered by the respondents when answering the question. However, some articles provided cross measures of quantitative and qualitative measurements resulting in the examination of both the frequency of use and the time spent on specific activities on social network sites.

CONCLUSIONS

The present review highlights the great diversity in the methods used to measure the use of social network sites among adolescents. The reliance on frequency-based measurements without taking into account the specificities of the activities or sites involved limits the investigation of their impact on adolescent functioning and behaviors. Given the observed discrepancies in the literature concerning the measurement of social network site use among adolescents and their associated biases, the development of specific instruments is needed to advance in this important field of research.

Electronic media use and sleep in children and adolescents in western countries: a systematic review

Background

Sleep is essential for child and adolescent health and well-being. There is an increasing interest in whether electronic media use affects children and young adolescents’ sleep. Prior reviews have focused on a school-aged population. Moreover, it is crucial that research continuously addresses the processes of technology and media use and the implication on sleep. This systematic review examines the evidence of electronic media use related to sleep among 0–15-year-olds.

Methods

Searches were carried out in four databases (CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Medline). Inclusion criteria included age ≤ 15 years, and intervention, cohort, or cross-sectional studies from western countries. Methodological quality was rated using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies by two independent reviewers. Data was extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Synthesis was done by summarizing results across studies by age groups of 0–5, 6–12, and 13–15 years within four sleep domains: Bedtime and sleep onset; Sleep quality; Sleep duration; Daytime tiredness.

Results

The search identified 10,719 unique studies, of which 109 fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria and were assessed for methodological quality. In total, 49 studies were included in the review. The study designs were randomized controlled trials (n = 3), quasi-experimental studies (n = 2), prospective cohort studies (n = 15), and cross-sectional studies (n = 29). Evidence for an association between electronic media use and sleep duration was identified, with stronger evidence for 6–15-years-olds than 0–5-year-olds. The evidence for a relationship between electronic media use and other sleep outcomes was more inconclusive. However, for 6–12-year-old children, there was evidence for associations of electronic media use with delayed bedtime and poor sleep quality. For 13–15-year-olds, there was evidence for associations between screen time and problems falling asleep, and between social media use and poor sleep quality.

Conclusions

Overall, electronic media use was generally associated with shorter sleep duration in children and adolescents. Studies with stronger research design and of higher quality are needed to draw solid conclusions about electronic media’s impact on other sleep outcomes. Public awareness and interventions could be promoted about the potential negative impact on children’s sleep of electronic media devices that are used excessively and close to bedtime.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11640-9.

The reciprocal relationships between social media self-control failure, mindfulness and wellbeing: A longitudinal study

This paper aims to shed light on the question whether, and how, social media self-control failure is related to mindfulness and wellbeing. Using a 3-wave longitudinal design, the present study among 594 daily social media users examined the reciprocal relationships between social media self-control failure and mindfulness, and between social media self-control failure and wellbeing (as assessed by subjective vitality and life satisfaction). Results of the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model showed that social media self-control failure has a time-invariant negative association with mindfulness and subjective vitality. No full reciprocal influence was found between social media self-control failure and mindfulness, yet part of this trajectory was observed, suggesting that social media self-control failure could impair mindfulness, which, in turn, might increase future social media self-control failure. For wellbeing, life satisfaction was found to predict subsequent drops in social media self-control failure.

Adjustment Correlates of Social Media Engagement Among Early Adolescents

Social media engagement is common among adolescents, yet not all adolescents use social media in the same ways or experience the same adjustment correlates. This study examined four social media behaviors (self-disclosure, self-presentation, lurking, and social monitoring) and two time-based measures of social media use (daily number of hours on social media and frequency of social media use) on three developmentally relevant adjustment correlates (internalizing problems, prosocial support, and online peer victimization). Self-report data were collected from 426 middle-school students (54.2% female, 73.6% Caucasian, 11.5% Black, 4.8% Hispanic, 10.1% other ethnicity, mean age = 12.91). The findings showed distinct adjustment patterns among the social media engagement indices, as well as sex and age differences. Neither the number of hours on social media nor social monitoring were associated with any adjustment correlates; however, the frequency of social media use was associated with positive adjustment (less internalizing problems and more prosocial support), primarily for older adolescents. Self-disclosure was positively associated with online peer victimization (girls only) and prosocial support. Self-presentation was associated with higher levels of internalizing problems and online peer victimization, as well as less prosocial support for younger adolescents and boys. Lurking was positively associated with internalizing problems. The findings suggest the need to consider specific types of social media engagement when creating prevention and intervention programs to address adolescent maladjustment.

The role of metacognitions and emotion recognition in problematic SNS use among adolescents

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Problematic social networking sites (SNS) use is associated with important psychological problems among adolescents. Nevertheless, research on the aetiology of problematic SNS use is limited. Our aim was to investigate the role of metacognitions and emotion recognition in predicting problematic SNS use during the late adolescence period.

METHODS

Eight hundred and sixty-one high school students were recruited for the study. Participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children (MCQ-C), and the Children's Version of Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET).

RESULTS

A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that all subdimensions of metacognitions (positive meta-worry, negative meta-worry, superstition, punishment, and responsibility beliefs, and cognitive monitoring), but not emotion recognition, independently predicted the BSMAS total score controlling for daily SNS use.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that maladaptive metacognitions are associated, independently frequency of daily SNS use, to problematic SNS use among late adolescents. Interventions targeting dysfunctional metacognitions may aid adolescents who suffer from the detrimental effects of problematic SNS use.

Social Media Use and Adolescents' Sleep: A Longitudinal Study on the Protective Role of Parental Rules Regarding Internet Use before Sleep

The popularity of social media use among adolescents has raised concerns about the potentially harmful effects of social media use on adolescents' sleep. Since longitudinal research considering this relationship is scarce, the present two-wave longitudinal study of 2021 secondary school students (Mage = 13.86, SD = 1.25) examined whether frequency of social media use and problematic social media use predicted adolescents' bedtime and quality of sleep. Moreover, the protective role of parental rules regarding Internet and smartphone use one hour before sleep was examined. The findings indicated that strict parental rules about Internet and smartphone use before sleep might prevent negative consequences of social media use on bedtime and sleep quality, but only among less engaged social media users. Once adolescents are highly engaged social media users, strict parental rules do not seem to prevent negative media influences on sleep. This implies that limiting Internet accessibility before bedtime can help prevent adolescents' sleep problems, but that regulation is less effective for adolescents who are already highly involved in social media use.

The search for causality of personality-chronotype associations: insights from a one-year longitudinal study of adolescents

Associations between certain personality traits and individual differences in diurnal preferences, referred to as morningness-eveningness, are well established from cross-sectional studies. However, it is unclear whether personality affects diurnal preference, diurnal preference affects personality, or some third factor influences both. The current study assessed the Big Five personality traits and morningness-eveningness in a one-year, two-wave longitudinal design, in a sample of 169 Polish high school students (59% females), aged 16-17 years (M = 16.80, SD = 0.39) during the first wave of measurement. During the second wave the participants were respectively 1 year older. Cross lagged panel analyses were run to determine wave 1 predictors of wave 2 variables. Cross-sectional analyses replicated the association between morningness and conscientiousness that has been reliably found in previous studies, but the cross-lagged paths between these variables were nonsignificant. These two traits appear to be intrinsically linked to one another by adolescence, possibly as a consequence of genetic influences that shape temperament earlier in childhood. In contrast, emotional stability and morningness were not significantly correlated in wave 1 cross-sectional data, but a significant relationship was found in the cross-lagged panel analysis. Wave 1 emotional stability predicted wave 2 morningness, although wave 1 morningness did not predict personality. We tentatively suggest that there may be a causal effect of personality on diurnal preference, associated with avoidance strategies for coping with academic stress as the high school years approach their end. More neurotic individuals may cope with their aversion to classes by distracting themselves with evening pursuits, such as use of the internet. Further work might examine in more depth how contextual stressors interact with personality to affect daily activities at different times of the day.

Association between Self-Reported Sleep Duration and Dietary Nutrients in Korean Adolescents: A Population-Based Study

(1) Background: Adolescence is a transient period from childhood to adulthood, which is characterized by rapid physical growth and psychological changes, including sleep. Because the relationship between insufficient sleep and obesity has been observed in children and adults, the potential links between sleep, dietary intake, and nutrition have received increased attention. We aimed to examine the association of sleep duration with dietary nutrients intake in South Korean adolescents; (2) Methods: This population-based, cross-sectional study analyzed the data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2015. Data related to 1422 adolescents aged 12–18 years (741 males and 681 females) were included in the analysis. Sleep duration was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Nutrient intake, including daily total energy intake, was assessed with a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire; (3) Results: Most males (84.4%) and females (86.4%) reported < 9 h of sleep per night. Short sleep duration was inversely associated with body mass index and obesity in both sexes. We found that higher intake of fiber and lower intake of sodium were associated with longer sleep duration (P < 0.05). When comparing the intake above and below the estimated average requirements (EAR), the difference in sleep duration was significant in the group that consumed vitamins B₁ and C below EAR; (4) Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that sleep duration can be associated with intake of some nutrients, which may also be associated with obesity in adolescents. Therefore, it is possible to prevent obesity and its complications by controlling the sleep duration and intake of nutrients of adolescents.

Social media use and adolescent sleep patterns: cross-sectional findings from the UK millennium cohort study

OBJECTIVES

This study examines associations between social media use and multiple sleep parameters in a large representative adolescent sample, controlling for a wide range of covariates.

DESIGN

The authors used cross-sectional data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a large nationally representative UK birth cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Data from 11 872 adolescents (aged 13-15 years) were used in analyses.

METHODS

Six self-reported sleep parameters captured sleep timing and quality: sleep onset and wake times (on school days and free days), sleep onset latency (time taken to fall asleep) and trouble falling back asleep after nighttime awakening. Binomial logistic regressions investigated associations between daily social media use and each sleep parameter, controlling for a range of relevant covariates.

RESULTS

Average social media use was 1 to <3 hours per day (31.6%, n=3720). 33.7% were classed as low users (<1 hour; n=3986); 13.9% were high users (3 to <5 hours; n=1602) and 20.8% were very high users (5+ hours; n=2203). Girls reported spending more time on social media than boys. Overall, heavier social media use was associated with poorer sleep patterns, controlling for covariates. For example, very high social media users were more likely than comparable average users to report late sleep onset (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.50) and wake times (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.93) on school days and trouble falling back asleep after nighttime awakening (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.66).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a normative profile of UK adolescent social media use and sleep. Results indicate statistically and practically significant associations between social media use and sleep patterns, particularly late sleep onset. Sleep education and interventions can focus on supporting young people to balance online interactions with an appropriate sleep schedule that allows sufficient sleep on school nights.

Addressing problematic video game use: A multimethod, dual-context perspective on leisure-time use

A more integrative approach to the prevention of problematic gaming behavior is recommended in Király et al.'s review. We discuss the Dutch policy responses to problematic gaming behavior and suggest two alternatives to the dominant survey research approach to achieve this. Employing time-use/diary studies allows us to map out the full scope of leisure-time use and employing log-data analysis improves our understanding of gamer behavior within the virtual context. All of these approaches would benefit from accounting for the diversity of within-virtual context behavior. The approach is summarized as a multimethod, dual-context approach to understanding leisure-time behavior.

Circadian Preference, Sleep Quality, and Health-impairing Lifestyles Among Undergraduates of Medical University

Background/Aims

Health-impairing lifestyle during adolescence is an important marker for poor health. An unhealthy lifestyle may lead to physical and psychological problems in adulthood. Most of the prior researches were done among the adult population. Therefore, we assessed the chronotype pattern and correlation of health-impairing lifestyles with sleep quality according to circadian typology in medical students.

Material and Methods

In this cross-sectional research, a total of 203 subjects were enrolled. All subjects were divided into definite evening chronotype (n = 73), intermediate chronotype (n = 87), and definite morning chronotype (n = 43). Electronic media use at bedtime and duration of media use, the timing of dinner, smoking, tobacco chewing, and alcohol consumption were assessed with the help of a preformed proforma. Physical activity, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and chronotype were assessed by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS), and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire Self-assessment version (MEQ-SA), respectively.

Results

Subjects of the evening chronotype were suffering more with poor sleep quality. Evening chronotype had a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between poor sleep quality and sex, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, type of diet, and timing of dinner.

Conclusion

Circadian typology demonstrated the significant correlation of health-impairing lifestyles with sleep quality. From this observation, it might be a better way to plan their daily activities, in accordance with their chronotypes, benefiting not only their academic performance but also their quality of life.

Social Media Use Before Bed and Sleep Disturbance Among Young Adults in the United States: A Nationally Representative Study

Study Objectives

Social media (SM) use has been positively associated with disturbed sleep among young adults. However, previous studies have not elucidated the specific importance of SM use immediately before bed. We aimed to determine the independent association of SM use during the 30 minutes before bed and disturbed sleep while controlling for covariates including total SM use throughout the day.

Methods

We assessed a nationally representative sample of 1763 US young adults aged 19-32. Participants estimated to what extent they used SM in the 30 minutes before bed. We assessed sleep disturbance using the brief Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Sleep Disturbance measure. After testing the proportional odds assumption, we used ordered logistic regression to compute the independent association between SM use before bed and sleep disturbance controlling for covariates, including total SM use.

Results

Compared with those who rarely or very rarely check SM in the 30 minutes before bed, those who often or very often check SM at that time had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.62 (95% confidence interval = 1.31-2.34) for increased sleep disturbance. Additionally, we found a significant linear trend in the odds ratios between the frequency of checking SM in the 30 minutes before bed and increased sleep disturbance (p = .007). Results were consistent in all sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

SM use in the 30 minutes before bed is independently associated with disturbed sleep among young adults. Future work should use qualitative and experimental methods to further elucidate the directionality of-and mechanisms underlying-this association.

School Connectedness and Chinese Adolescents' Sleep Problems: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although previous research indicates an association between school connectedness and adolescents' sleep quality, its causal direction has not been determined. This study used a 2-wave cross-lagged panel analysis to explore the likely causal direction between these 2 constructs.

METHODS

Participants were 888 Chinese adolescents (43.80% boys; M_age = 15.55) who provided self-report data on school connectedness and sleep quality as well as demographic variables at the beginning and the end of a school year.

RESULTS

After controlling for sex and age, we found that sleep problems at the beginning of the school year were a significant and negative predictor of school connectedness at the end of the school year (b₂ = -.26, SE = .13, β₂ = -.10, p < .05), but school connectedness at the beginning of the school year did not predict sleep problems at the end of the school year (b₁ = .05, SE = .03, β₁ = .09, p > .05). Separate analyses by sex showed that the above pattern of results was mainly driven by the boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that sleep problems could be a risk factor for adolescent boys' school connectedness.

Beyond "Facebook Addiction": The Role of Cognitive-Related Factors and Psychiatric Distress in Social Networking Site Addiction

The use of social networking sites (SNSs) is rapidly increasing as billions of individuals use SNS platforms regularly to communicate with other users, follow the news, and play browser games. Given the widespread use of SNS platforms, investigating the potential predictors of addictive SNS use beyond Facebook use has become paramount given that most studies so far focused on "Facebook addiction." In this study, a total of 511 English-speaking SNS users (58.1% young adults aged 20-35 years; 64.6% female) were recruited online and asked to complete a battery of standardized psychometric tools assessing participants' sociodemographic characteristics, SNS preferences and patterns of use, SNS addiction, preference for online social interaction, maladaptive cognitions, fear of missing out (FoMo), dysfunctional emotion regulation, and general psychiatric distress. Overall, about 4.9% (n = 25) of all participants could be classed as having a high SNS addiction risk profile. Moreover, the results further indicated that FoMo (β = 0.38), maladaptive cognitions (β = 0.25), and psychiatric distress (β = 0.12) significantly predicted SNS addiction (i.e., p < 0.0001) and accounted for about 61% of the total variance in SNS addiction, with FoMo providing the strongest predictive contribution over and above the effects of sociodemographic variables and patterns of SNS use. The implications of the present findings were discussed in light of extant literature on behavioral addictions and Facebook addiction and further considerations were provided regarding the potential clinical implications for cognitive-based psychological treatment approaches to SNS addiction.

Instagram addiction and the Big Five of personality: The mediating role of self-liking

Background and aims Recent research has suggested that social networking site use can be addictive. Although extensive research has been carried out on potential addiction to social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Tinder, only one very small study has previously examined potential addiction to Instagram. Consequently, the objectives of this study were to examine the relationships between personality, self-liking, daily Internet use, and Instagram addiction, as well as exploring the mediating role of self-liking between personality and Instagram addiction using path analysis. Methods A total of 752 university students completed a self-report survey, including the Instagram Addiction Scale (IAS), the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and the Self-Liking Scale. Results Results indicated that agreeableness, conscientiousness, and self-liking were negatively associated with Instagram addiction, whereas daily Internet use was positively associated with Instagram addiction. The results also showed that self-liking partially mediated the relationship of Instagram addiction with agreeableness and fully mediated the relationship between Instagram addiction with conscientiousness. Discussion and conclusions This study contributes to the small body of literature that has examined the relationship between personality and social networking site addiction and is one of only two studies to examine the addictive use of Instagram and the underlying factors related to it.

Mobile Phones in the Bedroom: Trajectories of Sleep Habits and Subsequent Adolescent Psychosocial Development

Mobile phones are an essential part of an adolescent's life, leading them to text, phone, or message into the night. Longitudinal latent growth models were used to examine relations between changes in adolescent night-time mobile phone use, changes in sleep behavior, and changes in well-being (depressed mood, externalizing behavior, self-esteem, and coping) for 1,101 students (43% male) between 13 and 16 years old. Both night-time mobile phone use and poor sleep behavior underwent positive linear growth over time. Increased night-time mobile phone use was directly associated with increased externalizing behavior and decreased self-esteem and coping. Changes in sleep behavior mediated the relation between early changes in night-time mobile phone use and later increases in depressed mood and externalizing behavior and later declines in self-esteem and coping.

The power and the pain of adolescents' digital communication: Cyber victimization and the perils of lurking

Many adolescents are heavily engaged with social media and text messaging (George & Odgers, 2015; Lenhart, 2015), yet few psychologists have studied what digital communication means for adolescents' relationships and adjustment. This article proposes that psychologists should embrace the careful study of adolescents' digital communication. We discuss theoretical frameworks for understanding adolescents' involvement with social media, present less widely recognized perils of intense involvement with social media, and highlight positive features of digital communication. Coconstruction theory suggests that adolescents help to create the content of digital communication that shapes their lives, and that there may be strong continuity between adolescents' offline and online lives (Subrahmanyam, Smahel, & Greenfield, 2006). However, psychological theories and research methods could further illuminate the power and the pain of adolescents' digital communication. Psychologists need to understand more about subtle but potentially serious risks that adolescents might face: The agony of victimization by even a single episode of cyberbullying and the pain of social exclusion and comparison resulting from vast amounts of time reading large social media feeds and seeing friends doing things without you and comparing your inner emotional experience to everyone else's highly groomed depictions of their seemingly marvelous lives. If we seek to understand developmental psychopathology and to help youth at risk, psychologists need to embrace careful study of the content of adolescents' online communication, parents need to talk with their children about their own online experiences and become familiar with social media themselves, and clinicians need to address adolescents' online social lives in prevention and treatment programs. (PsycINFO Database Record

The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults

INTRODUCTION

Many factors contribute to sleep disturbance among young adults. Social media (SM) use is increasing rapidly, and little is known regarding its association with sleep disturbance.

METHODS

In 2014 we assessed a nationally representative sample of 1788 U.S. young adults ages 19-32. SM volume and frequency were assessed by self-reported minutes per day spent on SM (volume) and visits per week (frequency) using items adapted from the Pew Internet Research Questionnaire. We assessed sleep disturbance using the brief Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) sleep disturbance measure. Analyses performed in Pittsburgh utilized chi-square tests and ordered logistic regression using sample weights in order to estimate effects for the total U.S.

RESULTS

In models that adjusted for all sociodemographic covariates, participants with higher SM use volume and frequency had significantly greater odds of having sleep disturbance. For example, compared with those in the lowest quartile of SM use per day, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of 1.95 (95% CI=1.37-2.79) for sleep disturbance. Similarly, compared with those in the lowest quartile of SM use frequency per week, those in the highest quartile had an AOR of 2.92 (95% CI=1.97-4.32) for sleep disturbance. All associations demonstrated a significant linear trend.

DISCUSSION

The strong association between SM use and sleep disturbance has important clinical implications for the health and well-being of young adults. Future work should aim to assess directionality and to better understand the influence of contextual factors associated with SM use.