IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i9p5164-d800944.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Time Spent on Social Media and Risk of Depression in Adolescents: A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Mingli Liu

    (Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

  • Kimberly E. Kamper-DeMarco

    (Department of Psychology, State University of New York College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA)

  • Jie Zhang

    (Department of Sociology, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing 102206, China
    Department of Sociology, State University of New York College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA)

  • Jia Xiao

    (Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

  • Daifeng Dong

    (Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
    China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Xiangya), Changsha 410011, China)

  • Peng Xue

    (College of Psychology, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116082, China)

Abstract

Adolescent depression is a worldwide public health concern and has contributed to significant socioeconomic burden. Investigating the association between time spent on social media (TSSM) and depression may provide guidance toward the prevention and intervention of adolescent depression. However, related literature reported mixed findings in terms of the relationship between TSSM and depression in adolescents. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive dose–response meta-analysis to clarify this issue. We conducted a systematic title/abstract and topic search of the relative terms in Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO databases through 9 January 2022. Odd ratios (ORs) were used to examine the pooled effect size of the association between TSSM and risk of depression. Dose–response analysis was evaluated by a generalized least squares trend estimation. Twenty-one cross-sectional studies and five longitudinal studies including a total of 55,340 participants were included. Overall, more TSSM was significantly associated with a higher risk of depression symptoms (OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.45 to 1.75) with high heterogeneity (Q (29) = 105.9, p < 0.001; I 2 = 72.6%). The association was stronger for adolescent girls (OR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.41 to 2.09) than boys (OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.05 to 1.37). Five studies with seven reports were included in dose–response analysis. There was a linear dose–response association of TSSM and risk of depression. The risk of depression increased by 13% (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.09 to 1.17, p < 0.001) for each hour increase in social media use in adolescents. TSSM is associated with depression in a linear dose–response and gender-specific manner, which suggests the need for better monitoring of adolescent social media use. However, motivation, content, and engagement on and exposure to social media use may also be important contributing factors, making it necessary to interpret the current findings with caution. Therefore, further research is required to clarify not only the causal link between TSSM and depression by randomized control studies but also the influence of other factors, such as active vs. passive social media use or different types of engagement or environments in which social media is used.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingli Liu & Kimberly E. Kamper-DeMarco & Jie Zhang & Jia Xiao & Daifeng Dong & Peng Xue, 2022. "Time Spent on Social Media and Risk of Depression in Adolescents: A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5164-:d:800944
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5164/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5164/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kietzmann, Jan H. & Hermkens, Kristopher & McCarthy, Ian P. & Silvestre, Bruno S., 2011. "Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 241-251, May.
    2. Jean M. Twenge & Jonathan Haidt & Thomas E. Joiner & W. Keith Campbell, 2020. "Underestimating digital media harm," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 346-348, April.
    3. Vittoria Franchina & Mariek Vanden Abeele & Antonius J. Van Rooij & Gianluca Lo Coco & Lieven De Marez, 2018. "Fear of Missing Out as a Predictor of Problematic Social Media Use and Phubbing Behavior among Flemish Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Haruka Tamura & Tomoko Nishida & Akiyo Tsuji & Hisataka Sakakibara, 2017. "Association between Excessive Use of Mobile Phone and Insomnia and Depression among Japanese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Leite Ângela & Lopes Silvia & Rodrigues Anabela, 2023. "Who are Portuguese followers of social media influencers (SMIs), and their attitudes towards SMIs? An exploratory study," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 18(4), pages 556-576, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Smith, Andrew N. & Fischer, Eileen & Yongjian, Chen, 2012. "How Does Brand-related User-generated Content Differ across YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter?," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 102-113.
    2. Krystyna Mazurek-Lopacinska & Magdalena Sobocinska, 2021. "Social Media in Marketing Activities of Enterprises in the Light of the Analysis of Empirical Research Results," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4B), pages 647-658.
    3. Monica Patrut, 2015. "Candidates In The Presidential Elections In Romania (2014): The Use Of Social Media In Political Marketing," Studies and Scientific Researches. Economics Edition, "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacau, Faculty of Economic Sciences, issue 21.
    4. Marcel Rosenberger & Christiane Lehrer & Reinhard Jung, 0. "Integrating data from user activities of social networks into public administrations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-14.
    5. Sikandar Ali Qalati & Dragana Ostic & Gu Shuibin & Fan Mingyue, 2022. "A mediated–moderated model for social media adoption and small and medium‐sized enterprise performance in emerging countries," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 846-861, April.
    6. Fracarolli Nunes, Mauro & Lee Park, Camila & Shin, Hyunju, 2021. "Corporate social and environmental irresponsibilities in supply chains, contamination, and damage of intangible resources: A behavioural approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    7. Rydén, Pernille & Ringberg, Torsten & Wilke, Ricky, 2015. "How Managers' Shared Mental Models of Business–Customer Interactions Create Different Sensemaking of Social Media," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 1-16.
    8. Prpić, John & Shukla, Prashant P. & Kietzmann, Jan H. & McCarthy, Ian P., 2015. "How to work a crowd: Developing crowd capital through crowdsourcing," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 77-85.
    9. Vasile-Daniel Păvăloaia & Elena-Mădălina Teodor & Doina Fotache & Magdalena Danileţ, 2019. "Opinion Mining on Social Media Data: Sentiment Analysis of User Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-21, August.
    10. Zhang, Chu-Bing & Zhang, Zhuo-Ping & Chang, Ying & Li, Tian-Ge & Hou, Ru-Jing, 2022. "Effect of WeChat interaction on brand evaluation: A moderated mediation model of para-social interaction and affiliative tendency," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Sarbu Miruna, 2017. "Does Social Media Increase Labour Productivity?," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 237(2), pages 81-113, April.
    12. Shiwei Shen & Marios Sotiriadis & Qing Zhou, 2020. "Could Smart Tourists Be Sustainable and Responsible as Well? The Contribution of Social Networking Sites to Improving Their Sustainable and Responsible Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, February.
    13. Perez-Vega, Rodrigo & Hopkinson, Paul & Singhal, Aishwarya & Mariani, Marcello M., 2022. "From CRM to social CRM: A bibliometric review and research agenda for consumer research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1-16.
    14. Gianluca Santoro & Antonino Costanzo & Christian Franceschini & Vittorio Lenzo & Alessandro Musetti & Adriano Schimmenti, 2024. "Insecure Minds through the Looking Glass: The Mediating Role of Mentalization in the Relationships between Adult Attachment Styles and Problematic Social Media Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-15, February.
    15. Murad Ali & Raja Ahmad Iskandar Bin Raja Yaacob & Mohd Nuri-Al-Amin B. Endut, 2017. "The Influence of Individual Characteristics towards the Use of Social Media as a Learning Tool: An Empirical Analysis," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 7(1), pages 251-256.
    16. Tafesse, Wondwesen & Wood, Bronwyn P., 2021. "Followers' engagement with instagram influencers: The role of influencers’ content and engagement strategy," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    17. Melina A. Throuvala & Mark D. Griffiths & Mike Rennoldson & Daria J. Kuss, 2019. "A ‘Control Model’ of Social Media Engagement in Adolescence: A Grounded Theory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Reilly, Anne H. & Hynan, Katherine A., 2014. "Corporate communication, sustainability, and social media: It's not easy (really) being green," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 57(6), pages 747-758.
    19. Tuleu Daniela, 2015. "Antecedents Of Customer Relationship Management Capabilities," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 1285-1294, July.
    20. TANASE, George Cosmin, 2017. "Managing the Brand and Communication in Social Media," Romanian Distribution Committee Magazine, Romanian Distribution Committee, vol. 8(2), pages 20-22, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5164-:d:800944. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.