Disentangling Loneliness, Depression, and Social Media Use: A Gaussian, Mixed, and Bayesian Network Approach in the EU Loneliness Study.

IF 2.7 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

International Journal of Social Psychiatry Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-21 DOI:10.1177/00207640251403835

Tommaso B Jannini, Rodolfo Rossi, Simone Chillemi, Giorgio Di Lorenzo, Cinzia Niolu, Alberto Siracusano

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Loneliness, depression, and social media use (SMU) are increasingly interconnected phenomena in modern mental health research. While prior studies have demonstrated associations between these domains, their mutual dynamics and directional relationships remain unclear. Traditional analytical approaches often treat these constructs as unitary, failing to capture the complexity of symptom-level interactions.

Aims: This study aimed to disentangle the relationships between loneliness, depression, and SMU by applying advanced network modeling approaches to a large and representative European sample.

Method: Using a large sample from the EU Loneliness Survey (N = 25,646), we applied Gaussian Graphical Models (GGMs), Moderated Mixed Graphical Models (MGMs), and Bayesian Network Analysis to explore the structure and potential causal pathways among loneliness, depression, and SMU symptoms. Moderation analyses tested whether gender, religiosity, income, and education influenced the network structure.

Results: Time spent on social media emerged as the most central symptom connecting loneliness and depression to SMU. Moderation analyses revealed that gender and religiosity significantly influenced specific network connections. In our sample, women exhibited stronger links between social rejection and emotional isolation, while religious individuals showed heightened associations between online engagement and problematic use. Bayesian network analysis identified a directional path from perceived lack of support to emotional disconnection, leading to depression and culminating in compensatory SMU.

Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the central role of loneliness in triggering depressive symptoms and maladaptive SMU, with meaningful differences across sociodemographic groups. These insights support the development of targeted, symptom-level interventions in digital mental health.

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解析孤独、抑郁和社交媒体使用：欧盟孤独研究中的高斯、混合和贝叶斯网络方法。

背景：在现代心理健康研究中，孤独、抑郁和社交媒体使用（SMU）日益成为相互关联的现象。虽然先前的研究已经证明了这些领域之间的联系，但它们的相互动态和方向关系仍不清楚。传统的分析方法通常将这些结构视为单一的，未能捕捉到症状级交互的复杂性。目的：本研究旨在通过应用先进的网络建模方法，对一个具有代表性的大型欧洲样本进行分析，以理清孤独、抑郁和SMU之间的关系。方法：利用欧盟孤独调查的大样本（N = 25,646），应用高斯图形模型（GGMs）、有调节混合图形模型（MGMs）和贝叶斯网络分析来探讨孤独、抑郁和SMU症状之间的结构和潜在因果关系。适度分析测试了性别、宗教信仰、收入和教育程度是否会影响网络结构。结果：花在社交媒体上的时间是将孤独和抑郁与新大联系起来的最主要症状。适度分析显示，性别和宗教信仰显著影响特定的网络连接。在我们的样本中，女性在社会排斥和情感孤立之间表现出更强的联系，而宗教人士在网络参与和有问题的使用之间表现出更强的联系。贝叶斯网络分析确定了从感知到缺乏支持到情感断裂的定向路径，导致抑郁，最终导致补偿性SMU。结论：我们的研究结果强调了孤独在引发抑郁症状和适应不良SMU中的核心作用，在不同的社会人口统计学群体中存在有意义的差异。这些见解支持在数字心理健康中开发有针对性的症状级干预措施。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Social Psychiatry PSYCHIATRY-

CiteScore

12.30

自引率

1.30%

发文量

120

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities. Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas. The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.