The Longitudinal Impact of Social Media Use on UK Adolescents' Mental Health: Longitudinal Observational Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cross-sectional studies have found a relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety in young people. However, few longitudinal studies using representative data and mediation analysis have been conducted to understand the causal pathways of this relationship.

Objective

This study aims to examine the longitudinal relationship between social media use and young people's mental health and the role of self-esteem and social connectedness as potential mediators.

Methods

The sample included 3228 participants who were 10- to 15-year-olds from Understanding Society (2009-2019), a UK longitudinal household survey. The number of hours spent on social media was measured on a 5-point scale from "none" to "7 or more hours" at the ages of 12-13 years. S

SUBMITTER: Plackett R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10132039 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature