A recent study conducted the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has found no direct correlation between increased social media usage and symptoms of anxiety or depression in youth. The study followed 800 children over a six-year period, examining their social media habits and mental health symptoms. Despite the rise in youth depression and the significant amount of time spent on social media children and young adults, the study concluded that increased social media use did not lead to an increase in mental health symptoms.
The researchers conducted the Trondheim Early Secure Study, which involved collecting data from the children and their parents every other year from the age of ten to sixteen. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were identified through diagnostic interviews. The study found that the outcome was the same for both boys and girls, regardless of whether they actively published content or engaged with others’ posts on social media.
While previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the impact of social media on mental health, the majority of these correlations are weak. The NTNU study aimed to provide a more nuanced picture following the same subjects over a number of years, conducting in-depth interviews, and examining various types of social media use.
While the study found no direct correlation between social media usage and symptoms of anxiety or depression, it does not discount the possibility of negative experiences or feelings of addiction or exclusion on social media. The researchers hope to identify those who may be particularly vulnerable to these negative experiences. At the same time, they acknowledge that social media can also provide a sense of community and belonging, especially for young people with few friends.
The Trondheim Early Secure Study will continue to collect data from the subjects, who are now 20 years old, in order to gain further insights into the development and functioning of young people in society.
Definitions:
– NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
– Trondheim Early Secure Study: A research project that follows the development of children from the age of four and collects data on their mental health and social media usage.
Sources:
– “Social media behaviors and symptoms of anxiety and depression. A four-wave cohort study from age 10–16 years.” Silje Steinsbekk, Jacqueline Nesi, and Lars Wichstrøm, Computers in Human Behavior
