Social Media Addiction Predicts Compromised Mental Health as well as Perceived and Objective Social Isolation in Denmark: A Longitudinal Analysis of a Nationwide Survey Linked to Register Data
Ziggi Ivan Santini, Lau Caspar Thygesen, Susan Andersen, Janne S. Tolstrup, Ai Koyanagi, Line Nielsen, Charlotte Meilstrup, Vibeke Koushede, Ola Ekholm
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Social media addiction has previously been linked to compromised mental health and social isolation; however, most studies are cross-sectional or based on convenience samples. The objective of the current study was to assess the extent to which social media addiction predicts compromised mental health and social isolation (including bi-directionality) in a large prospective sample of Danish adults. Data stem from a nationwide longitudinal Danish survey of 1958 adults (aged 16+) conducted in 2020 and 2021. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) was used. Validated scales were used to assess depression, mental wellbeing, and loneliness. A total of 2.3% screened positive for social media addiction. As compared to no symptoms, social media addiction was associated with an elevated risk for depression (OR = 2.71; 95% CI 1.08, 6.83) and negatively with mental wellbeing (coef = −1.29; 95% CI −2.41, −0.16). Similarly, social media addiction was associated with an elevated risk of loneliness (OR = 4.40; 95% CI 1.20, 16.19), and negatively with social network size (coef = −0.46; 95% CI −0.86, −0.06). There is a need for preventive actions against addictive social media use, as this poses significant risk to mental health and social functioning in the working age population.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Mental Health and Addictions (IJMH) is a publication that specializes in presenting the latest research, policies, causes, literature reviews, prevention, and treatment of mental health and addiction-related topics. It focuses on mental health, substance addictions, behavioral addictions, as well as concurrent mental health and addictive disorders. By publishing peer-reviewed articles of high quality, the journal aims to spark an international discussion on issues related to mental health and addiction and to offer valuable insights into how these conditions impact individuals, families, and societies. The journal covers a wide range of fields, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, criminology, public health, psychiatry, history, and law. It publishes various types of articles, including feature articles, review articles, clinical notes, research notes, letters to the editor, and commentaries. The journal is published six times a year.