Abstract
Studies examining the associations between adolescent social media use and depression/anxiety symptoms show inconsistent results and do not elucidate the direction of associations. Differences in how studies operationalize social media use and consider potential moderating effects of sex and extraversion could contribute to inconsistencies. A distinction has been made between three types of social media use: passive, active and problematic. This study examined longitudinal associations between these types of adolescents’ social media use and depression/anxiety symptoms and moderation effects of sex or extraversion. At ages 13 (T1) and 14 (T2), 257 adolescents completed an online questionnaire regarding their depression and anxiety symptoms and problematic social media use as well as three social media use diaries. Cross-lagged panel modeling (CLPM) revealed a positive association between problematic use and later anxiety symptoms (β = .16, p = .010). Extraversion moderated the association between active use and anxiety (β = -.14, p = .032). Specifically, active use predicted higher subsequent anxiety symptoms only in adolescents with low to moderate levels of extraversion. No sex moderation was found. While social media use (active or problematic) predicted later anxiety symptoms (but not depression), the reverse was not the case. However, highly extraverted individuals seem to be less vulnerable to potential negative effects of social media use.
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The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (MOP-79420, IHD-107532, and POH-120254), the Canadian Council for Learning and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) (435-2016-1259) supported this study. Gingras was supported by funding from the SSHRC and Herba was supported by a salary award from the Fonds de Recherche du Quebec Sante (FRQS). Séguin receives support from the Fonds Monique Gaumond pour la recherche en maladies affectives.
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All authors were involved in various aspects of study conception and design. Gingras conducted statistical analyses under the supervision of Brendgen and Herba. Gingras wrote the first draft of the manuscript and all authors were involved in preparing the final version of the manuscript.
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Gingras, MP., Brendgen, M., Beauchamp, M.H. et al. Adolescents and Social Media: Longitudinal Links Between Types of Use, Problematic Use and Internalizing Symptoms. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 51, 1641–1655 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-023-01084-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-023-01084-7