A recent study conducted by the University of Cambridge reveals notable differences in social media usage between adolescents with mental health conditions and their peers without such conditions. The research, one of the first to use clinical-level diagnoses, highlights how young people with conditions like anxiety and depression are more affected by social media.
According to the study, adolescents with internalising conditions report increased dissatisfaction with online friend counts and spend more time on social media. They are also more prone to comparing themselves to others and experiencing mood changes based on likes and comments received. On average, these adolescents spend about 50 minutes more per day on social media than those without a mental health condition.
The study was led by Cambridge’s Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (MRC CBU) using data from a 2017 survey of 3,340 UK adolescents aged 11 to 19 years old. This survey was part of NHS Digital’s Mental Health of Children and Young People Survey (MHCYP).
Luisa Fassi, lead author of the study published in Nature Human Behaviour, stated: “The link between social media use and youth mental health is hotly debated, but hardly any studies look at young people already struggling with clinical-level mental health symptoms.”
Fassi added that while the study does not establish a causal link between social media use and mental health symptoms, it shows that those with mental health conditions interact differently with online platforms. She noted: “This could be because mental health conditions shape the way adolescents interact with online platforms, or perhaps social media use contributes to their symptoms.”
The research found that all types of mental health conditions were associated with greater dissatisfaction regarding online friendships. “Friendships are crucial during adolescence as they shape identity development,” Fassi said.
While most differences were observed among young people with internalising conditions like anxiety and depression, few differences were found for those with externalising conditions such as ADHD or conduct disorders.
Dr Amy Orben, senior author of the study from Cambridge, remarked: “Our findings provide important insights for clinical practice and could help to inform future guidelines for early intervention.” However, she cautioned that much remains unknown about the complex relationship between social media use and mental health.
Fassi concluded: “So many factors can be behind why someone develops a mental health condition... A huge question like this needs lots of research that combines experimental designs with objective social media data.”