Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the association between social networking site (SNS) use and depression
in older adolescents using an experience sample method (ESM) approach.
Methods
Older adolescent university students completed an online survey containing the Patient
Health Questionnaire-9 depression screen (PHQ) and a weeklong ESM data collection
period to assess SNS use.
Results
Participants (N = 190) included in the study were 58% female and 91% Caucasian. The
mean age was 18.9 years (standard deviation = .8). Most used SNSs for either <30 minutes
(n = 100, 53%) or between 30 minutes and 2 hours (n = 74, 39%); a minority of participants
reported daily use of SNS >2 hours (n = 16, 8%). The mean PHQ score was 5.4 (standard
deviation = 4.2). No associations were seen between SNS use and either any depression
(p = .519) or moderate to severe depression (p = .470).
Conclusions
We did not find evidence supporting a relationship between SNS use and clinical depression.
Counseling patients or parents regarding the risk of “Facebook Depression” may be
premature.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 09, 2012
Accepted:
May 23,
2012
Received:
January 13,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Social Networking and Depression: An Emerging Issue in Behavioral Physiology and Psychiatric ResearchJournal of Adolescent HealthVol. 54Issue 6
- PreviewI recently read with great interest the article by Jelenchick et al., titled “Facebook depression?’ Social networking site use and depression in older adolescents,” published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in January 2013 [1]. This study brings to light a very important issue that until very recently has not been given enough attention in behavioral physiology and psychiatric research.
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