KATHMANDU, May 7: A large-scale survey conducted in the UK has found that teenagers with mental health problems spend significantly more time on social media.
On an average, they spend 50 minutes more on such platforms than others, and their online experiences and happiness are found to be lower than their peers. The survey was conducted among more than 3,000 British teenagers.
The study, recently published in the scientific journal Nature Human Behaviour, specifically explored how teenagers with mental health issues use social media. According to Louisa Fassi, a specialist in youth mental health and social media use at the University of Cambridge and a participant in the study, this research is highly relevant because very few studies have been done on this topic at such a large scale.
Similarly, Anne Marie Albano, a clinical child and adolescent psychologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, said, “If your adolescence is vulnerable due to anxiety or depression, social media needs to be monitored carefully. The study gives a strong warning to related families.”
Most teens have taken social media break
Researchers analyzed data from the UK's National Health Service (NHS) survey conducted in 2017 on children aged 11 to 19. Participants underwent in-depth clinical evaluations and were asked about their use of social media sites and how they felt about them.
The study found that 16 percent of respondents had at least one mental health issue. Among them, 8 percent suffered from ‘internal’ problems like depression and anxiety. These individuals were found to hold negative emotions toward themselves. Likewise, 3 percent had “external” problems and were found to harbor negative feelings toward others.
Data analysis showed that youths with mental health problems generally spent more time on social media. Those with internal issues were more likely to compare themselves with others online than those with external issues or those without any mental health conditions.
Those with internal problems were also more affected by comments and reactions on their posts. They were found to have less control over how much time they spent on social media.
Researchers claimed that the study provides direction on how to treat teenagers dealing with various mental health issues. Fassi, who is also a co-author of the study, said, “Clinicians can use this information. For example, they can use tools to help young people regulate their social media use or reduce social comparison.”
Albano also agreed that the study’s results have clinical applications. “We have worked a lot in the field of social media literacy. For example, how to respond to online messages, how to choose sites that support their interests, and how to recommend sites that don’t negatively affect self-worth are important matters,” she said.
She added that the study does not conclude whether social media causes mental health problems or not. This remains a topic of global debate. Researchers suggest that more long-term studies across different age groups are needed to address this issue.
