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Social Media Extensive Use and Emotional and Behavioural Outcomes in Adolescence: Evidence from British Longitudinal Data

Author

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  • McNamee, Paul

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Mendolia, Silvia

    (University of Turin)

  • Yerokhin, Oleg

    (University of Wollongong)

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between social media use and emotional and behavioural outcomes in adolescence using data from a large and detailed longitudinal study of teenagers from the UK. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in economics to analyse the effect of social media use on adolescents' mental health. We use individual fixed effects, propensity score matching and treatment effects with Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment, controlling for a rich set of children's and family's characteristics and using comprehensive sensitivity analyses and tests to assess the potential role of unobserved variables. Our results show that prolonged use of social media (more than 4 hours per day) is significantly associated with poorer emotional health and more behavioural difficulties, and in particular decreased perception of self-value and increased incidence of hyperactivity, inattention and conduct problems. However, limited use of social media (less than 3 hours per day) has some positive effect on peer relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • McNamee, Paul & Mendolia, Silvia & Yerokhin, Oleg, 2019. "Social Media Extensive Use and Emotional and Behavioural Outcomes in Adolescence: Evidence from British Longitudinal Data," IZA Discussion Papers 12834, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12834
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anne Nolan & Smyth, Emer, 2021. "Risk and protective factors for mental health and wellbeing in childhood and adolescence," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS120.

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    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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