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Firth J, Torous J, López-Gil JF, Linardon J, Milton A, Lambert J, Smith L, Jarić I, Fabian H, Vancampfort D, Onyeaka H, Schuch FB, Firth JA. From "online brains" to "online lives": understanding the individualized impacts of Internet use across psychological, cognitive and social dimensions. World Psychiatry 2024; 23:176-190. [PMID: 38727074 PMCID: PMC11083903 DOI: 10.1002/wps.21188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to the mass adoption and extensive usage of Internet-enabled devices across the world, a major review published in this journal in 2019 examined the impact of Internet on human cognition, discussing the concepts and ideas behind the "online brain". Since then, the online world has become further entwined with the fabric of society, and the extent to which we use such technologies has continued to grow. Furthermore, the research evidence on the ways in which Internet usage affects the human mind has advanced considerably. In this paper, we sought to draw upon the latest data from large-scale epidemiological studies and systematic reviews, along with randomized controlled trials and qualitative research recently emerging on this topic, in order to now provide a multi-dimensional overview of the impacts of Internet usage across psychological, cognitive and societal outcomes. Within this, we detail the empirical evidence on how effects differ according to various factors such as age, gender, and usage types. We also draw from new research examining more experiential aspects of individuals' online lives, to understand how the specifics of their interactions with the Internet, and the impact on their lifestyle, determine the benefits or drawbacks of online time. Additionally, we explore how the nascent but intriguing areas of culturomics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality are changing our understanding of how the Internet can interact with brain and behavior. Overall, the importance of taking an individualized and multi-dimensional approach to how the Internet affects mental health, cognition and social functioning is clear. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for guidelines, policies and initiatives around Internet usage to make full use of the evidence available from neuroscientific, behavioral and societal levels of research presented herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Firth
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - John Torous
- Division of Digital Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - José Francisco López-Gil
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jake Linardon
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Alyssa Milton
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ivan Jarić
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah Fabian
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Davy Vancampfort
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- University Psychiatric Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Henry Onyeaka
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Felipe B Schuch
- Department of Sports Methods and Techniques, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Institute of Health Sciences, Universidad Autônoma de Chile, Providência, Chile
| | - Josh A Firth
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Orsolini L, Reina S, Longo G, Volpe U. "Swipe & slice": decoding digital struggles with non-suicidal self-injuries among youngsters. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1403445. [PMID: 38803677 PMCID: PMC11129632 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1403445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nonsuicidal-self-injury (NSSI)-related content recently emerged on social networking sites (SNS), despite its relationship with NSSI conducts is still unclear. Methods Hence, the current population-based cross-sectional study investigated the interplay between SNS use, NSSI content engagement, risky social media challenges (RSMCs), in a sample of 404 young adults (aged 18-24), focusing on the influence of problematic social media use (PSMU) and fear of missing out (FoMO). Results Around 51.5% of the samplewas engaged inNSSI-related contents on SNS, being mostly females (p<0.001), younger (p=0.005), transgender people and nonbinary people (p=0.030) and those who displayed higher PSMU (p<0.001) or FoMO (p=0.031). Around 66.2% of the sample currently practice NSSIs, predominantly among females (p<0.001), those using BeReal (p=0.012), actively looking for NSSIrelated contents on SNS (p<0.001) to be part of a group (p=0.0025) or learn how to practice NSSI (p=0.025). PSMU (p<0.001) and FoMO (p<0.001) emerged as significant predictors of NSSI content engagement, particularly among active seekers. NSSI conducts were significantly predicted by FoMO (p<0.001) and Snapchat (p=0.044), while negatively predicted by male sex (p<0.001), higher educational level (p=0.019) and age at which NSSI-related contents were firstly looked for (p=0.028). Discussion These findings underline the need to implement preventivepolicies and targeted interventions to monitor NSSI-related contents on SNS, the impact of PSMU and FoMO on NSSI, particularly among youngsters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Orsolini
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
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Carmassi C, Bertelloni CA, Dell'Oste V, Pedrinelli V, Fantasia S, Atti AR, Goracci A, Nanni MG, Massimetti E, Dell'Osso L, Bui E. The relationship between peritraumatic distress, mental health symptoms, and functioning impairment in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 emergency. CNS Spectr 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38327004 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852923006338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Healthcare workers (HCWs) were considered a population at risk for developing psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Peritraumatic distress is associated with post-traumatic psychopathological symptoms; however, little is known about how it may affect functioning. The study aimed at evaluating the level of peritraumatic distress in a sample of HCWs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and at examining the relationship between peritraumatic distress, mental health symptoms, and functioning impairment. METHODS A sample of 554 frontline HCWs were consecutively enrolled in major university hospitals and community services in Italy. The PDI, IES-R, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 were used to assess peritraumatic distress, symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, respectively, and the WSAS to investigate functioning impairment. PDI scores were higher among females, community services, physicians, and nurses. Furthermore, the PDI correlated significantly with the GAD-7, PHQ-9, IES-R, and WSAS. RESULTS In a mediation analysis, the direct effect of PDI on WSAS and the indirect effects through the PHQ-9 and IES-R were statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSION Peritraumatic distress reported by HCWs was associated with symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, but the association with reduced functioning may be only partially mediated through symptoms of depression and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Carmassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Valerio Dell'Oste
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Virginia Pedrinelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Fantasia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna-Rita Atti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Arianna Goracci
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Nanni
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Massimetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lilliana Dell'Osso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eric Bui
- Department of Psychiatry Caen University of Caen, Normandy & Caen University Hospital, Caen, France
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Kim ACH, Du J, Andrew DPS. Social media consumption and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown: the mediating effect of physical activity. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1120230. [PMID: 38130287 PMCID: PMC10733509 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1120230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social media platforms played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore: (1) the changes in social media consumption patterns, physical activity levels/sedentary behavior, and depressive symptoms, and (2) how the changes in social media consumption patterns predict the changes in depressive symptoms while investigating the mediating role of changes in physical activity levels/sedentary behavior between before, and after the COVID-19 lockdown among U.S. adults with different age clusters. Methods A total of 695 U.S. participants completed an online questionnaire via MTurk, and participants were asked to recall their social media consumption patterns, physical activity/sedentary behavior, depressive symptoms in January and May of 2020 while covariates included non-physical activity health behavior including diet quality, alcohol consumption, smoking, and sleep quality. Results The results of Bayesian significance testing of changes showed that the older participants tended to spend more time with content-focused social media platforms during the lockdown. While significantly increased sitting time was reported by all age clusters, no significant changes were found in activity levels. Additionally, the middle-aged and older participants reported significantly higher depressive symptoms. The findings of a multigroup structural analysis showed the significant mediating effect of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on the relationship between changes in social media consumption and depressive symptoms. Discussion This study highlights the need for targeting specific social media platforms for older adults and the importance of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to alleviate the mental health issues resulting from social media consumption. The result of this study also highlights the need for sport-based intervention programs in the future and the need for more social media campaigns at the institution/organization levels established by public health stakeholders and policy makers to promote physical activity and maximize population perception and reach during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Chan Hyung Kim
- Department of Sport Management, Center for Sport, Health, and Equitable Development (cSHED), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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Carrasco JP, Saucier AM, Whitley R. Spanish media coverage of youth mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:579. [PMID: 37563600 PMCID: PMC10413772 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The media portrayal of mental health is relevant in shaping the population's attitudes towards mental disorders. However, there is little information about the representation of young mental health issues in the Spanish-language press, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The general objective of this study was to analyse the tone and content of Spanish newspaper articles about mental disorders in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We collected media articles from the 10 most read news sources over a 6 month period (January-June 2021). These articles were coded for content using a standardised codebook, followed by an inductive thematic analysis. A total of 205 news items were evaluated. RESULTS Results showed that the majority of the news items had an overall positive tone (68.3%), only 5.4% were stigmatising and only 7.3% were related to violence. However, few articles offered help seeking information (6%), adolescents were rarely quoted (14%) and children were never quoted. Substantial differences are described in terms of age, gender and disorder. The thematic analysis led to three emergent themes: (i) violence and victimisation; (ii) the COVID-19 pandemic; and (iii) technology and social media. CONCLUSIONS The percentage of news in the Spanish media that refer to young people's mental health in a stigmatising way or in a way associated with violence is very low. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may have promoted more positive discussion about youth mental health. However, major challenges remain to be addressed, as patients are seldom quoted, very few articles offer help-seeking information, and a narrative of victimisation without appropriate discussion of resilience regularly occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Carrasco
- Deparment of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico de Valencia (INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain.
| | | | - Rob Whitley
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Sampogna G, Di Vincenzo M, Luciano M, Della Rocca B, Albert U, Carmassi C, Carrà G, Cirulli F, Dell’Osso B, Nanni MG, Pompili M, Sani G, Tortorella A, Volpe U, Fiorillo A. The effect of social media and infodemic on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the COMET multicentric trial. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1226414. [PMID: 37575576 PMCID: PMC10412935 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1226414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the status of pandemic due to the COVID-19 infection. The initial phases of the pandemic were characterized by uncertainty and public fears. In order to cope with such unexpected conditions, people adopted different coping strategies, including search for information, accessing Internet, and using social media. The present study based on the COMET collaborative research network aims to: (1) assess use of Internet and of social media among the Italian general population; (2) explore differences in web usage between people with pre-existing mental disorders and the general population; (3) identify changes over time in social media usage along the phase 1 of the pandemic; (4) identify the clinical, socio-demographic and contextual predictors of excessive use of social media. A significant increase in time spent on Internet, with an average time of 4.8 ± 0.02 h per day, was found in the global sample of 20,720 participants. Compared with the general population, Internet use was significantly higher in people with pre-existing mental disorders (5.2 ± 0.1 h vs. 4.9 ± 0.02; p < 0.005). According to the multivariate logistic regression model, the risk of excessive use of social media and Internet was significantly higher in people with moderate levels of depressive symptoms (OR: 1.26, CI 95%: 0.99 to 1.59, p < 0.0.005); while protective factors were being students (OR: 0.72, CI 95%: 0.53 to 0.96, p < 0.0029) and living in central Italy (OR: 0.46, CI 95%: 0.23 to 0.90, p < 0.002). The evaluation of social media and Internet use by the general population represents a first step for developing specific protective and supportive interventions for the general population, including practical suggestions on how to safely use Internet and social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Matteo Di Vincenzo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Luciano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Bianca Della Rocca
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Umberto Albert
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina—ASUGI, Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudia Carmassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carrà
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirulli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell’Osso
- Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences and Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Maria Giulia Nanni
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Sensory Organs and Thorax, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Umberto Volpe
- Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
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Sun X, Li BJ, Zhang H, Zhang G. Social media use for coping with stress and psychological adjustment: A transactional model of stress and coping perspective. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1140312. [PMID: 37034939 PMCID: PMC10075314 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The psychological well-being of individuals has become an essential issue during the global pandemic. As a pervasive activity for individuals to pull through COVID-19, social media use may play a role in psychological well-being. Drawing on the transactional model of stress and coping, the current study investigated the relationships between COVID-19-related stressors and the use of social media to facilitate specific coping strategies. We further investigated how social media coping strategies impact users' psychological adjustment. Methods We collected the data from 641 quarantined residents through a two-wave survey that was conducted in two cities in China during government-mandated lockdowns. Results The results showed that perceived COVID-19 stress was related to the intensity of social media use for problem-focused coping, socioemotional coping, and mental disengagement. In addition, individuals' psychological adjustment was positively associated with social media use for socioemotional coping and mental disengagement while negatively related to problem-focused coping. Age was also found to be a moderator of the relationship between socioemotional coping and psychological adjustment. Discussion To relieve pandemic-related stress, individuals can actively utilize social media to implement various coping strategies. However, coping activities with social media may not always induce psychological benefits. By revealing the different levels of psychological adjustment among social media users with specific coping strategies, the current research enriched the literature on the effects of social media use on mental health. Findings from this study suggest the need for the prudent use of social media to cope with public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobei Sun
- School of Journalism and Communication, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Benjamin J. Li
- Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Heng Zhang
- Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Heng Zhang,
| | - Guanwen Zhang
- School of Journalism and Communication, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
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Sampogna G, Pompili M, Fiorillo A. The Short-Term Consequences of COVID-19 on Mental Health: State of the Art from Available Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15860. [PMID: 36497935 PMCID: PMC9738499 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences on mental health have been found to be considerable, with potential effects on the general population and in high-risk groups, with a variety of physiopathological mechanisms [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Suicide Prevention Centre, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80131 Naples, Italy
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