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  3. 短视频与社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠及心理健康的影响:基于研究分类的系统性综述

短视频与社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠及心理健康的影响:基于研究分类的系统性综述

深度研究匿名用户发表于 2026年05月06日 17:237阅读
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1. 引言

1.1 研究背景与现实意义

当前,短视频和社交媒体已成为全球青少年生活中不可或缺的组成部分。据统计,2022年全球个人平均每天花费151分钟在社交媒体上 1,这表明社交媒体在全球范围内的普及程度及其在青少年日常生活中日益重要的地位。青少年,尤其是年轻的青少年,在这些平台上花费了大量时间,这些平台已逐渐成为他们生活不可分割的一部分 1。

这种广泛的数字媒体使用对青少年的健康发展产生了深远影响,尤其是在注意力、睡眠和心理健康方面。随着青少年群体中心理健康问题患病率的不断上升,美国近期建议对8-18岁的青少年常规筛查焦虑症,并对12-18岁的青少年筛查抑郁症和自杀风险 1,这些状况往往伴随着问题性社交媒体使用。社交媒体的影响力不仅体现在用户互动和信息获取上,也体现在其作为商业健康决定因素的角色,通过塑造数字食品环境等方式影响儿童和青少年的健康结果 2。此外,社交媒体影响者(SMI)已成为青少年健康信息的重要来源,但其专业知识的缺乏和商业利益可能对青少年健康构成挑战,如推广不健康的饮食和产品 3。

因此,深入研究短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的影响,区分不同类型研究(相关性研究、因果研究、干预研究)的证据效力,对于理解这些复杂关联、制定有效的公共卫生策略和干预措施,以促进青少年健康成长具有重要的现实意义和公共卫生价值 45。例如,有研究表明,过度社交媒体使用与不良心理健康结果和睡眠质量差显著相关 6。本综述旨在系统梳理现有研究,为政策制定者、教育工作者、家长以及平台开发者提供科学依据,共同构建健康的数字生态环境。

1.2 综述目的与框架设计

本系统性综述旨在全面分析短视频与社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的影响,并通过对现有研究进行分类和整合,提供一个清晰的证据图景。传统的综述方法可能难以区分不同研究设计所提供的证据强度,因此,本综述将严格区分相关性研究、因果研究和干预研究这三类研究,以揭示其在证据效力上的差异,并为理解这些复杂关系提供更深入的视角。系统性综述作为一种研究方法,通过汇编和分析现有研究的大型数据集,能帮助研究者深入了解特定主题,并培养文献研究和科学写作等技能,且与原始研究相比,所需资源较少,能产出高质量且临床相关的文章 78。

具体而言,本综述的分析逻辑如下:

  1. 相关性研究:着重梳理短视频和社交媒体使用行为(如使用时长、频率、内容类型等)与青少年注意力、睡眠质量和心理健康状况之间的统计学关联。这部分将探讨不同使用模式可能存在的共现关系,但不会直接推断因果联系。尽管相关性研究无法证明因果关系,但它们是发现潜在联系并为进一步研究提供方向的关键步骤。
  2. 因果研究:侧重于识别和评估那些旨在探究短视频和社交媒体使用是否“导致”注意力、睡眠或心理健康变化的证据。这包括采用纵向研究、自然实验、工具变量法或随机对照试验等方法的研究,这些方法能够更好地控制混杂因素,从而提供更强的因果推断依据。本部分将深入探讨因果方向的确定、潜在的中介机制以及现有因果证据的局限性。
  3. 干预研究:评估旨在减少短视频和社交媒体负面影响或促进其健康使用的干预措施的效果。这包括个体层面的数字素养培训、平台层面的青少年模式和防沉迷机制、以及家校层面的协同干预等。本部分将总结不同干预措施的有效性,并分析其在实践中面临的挑战与局限。

在核心结局方面,本综述将考察以下三个维度:

  • 注意力:关注持续注意力、选择性注意力、注意力转移能力、冲动控制能力等认知功能指标。有研究已表明,短视频使用与较差的认知能力呈中等程度的负相关,其中注意力(r = -.38)和抑制控制(r = -.41)表现出最强的关联 9。
  • 睡眠:考量睡眠时长、入睡潜伏期、睡眠效率、睡眠质量(如夜间觉醒次数)、日间疲惫感等睡眠相关指标。
  • 心理健康:主要关注焦虑、抑郁、压力、情绪调节能力、自尊、身体意象以及整体幸福感等心理健康维度。现有证据显示,短视频使用与较差的心理健康状况(r = -.21)存在弱负相关,其中压力(r = -.34)和焦虑(r = -.33)的关联最强 9。此外,社交媒体使用与抑郁、焦虑和睡眠问题之间存在小而显著的正相关 10。

通过上述框架,本综述旨在提供一个全面、系统且具有证据层级区分的分析,以期为理解短视频与社交媒体对青少年影响的复杂性提供深入见解,并为未来研究和政策制定提供坚实基础。

2. 综述纳入标准与研究分类框架

2.1 文献纳入与排除标准

为确保本综述的系统性、全面性和高质量,我们将设定严格的文献纳入与排除标准。本次综述旨在涵盖短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康影响的最新且最具代表性的研究成果。

2.1.1 纳入标准

  1. 研究对象:仅纳入以青少年为研究对象的文献。根据世界卫生组织(WHO)的定义,青少年通常指10-24岁的人群。考虑到研究的特异性,我们将进一步聚焦于涵盖早期青少年(9-15岁)至晚期青少年(16-24岁)的样本,其中尤其关注9-17岁学龄青少年群体,因其在此阶段面临显著的身心发展变化和数字媒体暴露的特殊性11。研究应明确指出受试者的年龄范围。
  2. 发表时间范围:主要关注2014年1月1日至2024年12月31日期间发表的文献。此时间段能够反映短视频平台和社交媒体快速发展及其对青少年影响的最新研究进展。然而,对于具有里程碑意义或方法学创新性的早期研究,将酌情纳入以提供更全面的背景。
  3. 研究主题:研究内容必须明确探讨短视频和/或社交媒体的使用行为(如使用时长、频率、互动模式、内容类型等)与青少年注意力(如持续注意力、注意力分散、ADHD症状等)、睡眠(如睡眠时长、入睡延迟、睡眠质量等)和心理健康(如焦虑、抑郁、情绪不稳定、自尊、身体意象等)结局之间的关系。
  4. 研究类型:纳入定量研究(包括横断面研究、队列研究、随机对照试验等)、定性研究和混合方法研究,以及系统综述和Meta分析,以提供多维度的证据。
  5. 语言:仅纳入以英文或中文发表的同行评议期刊文章,以确保研究的可及性和质量。

2.1.2 排除标准

  1. 研究对象不符:研究对象主要为儿童(<10岁)或成年人(>24岁)的文献,以及专门针对特定临床诊断群体(如严重精神疾病患者,而非探讨一般青少年心理健康问题的文献)的文献将被排除,除非其研究结果对理解一般青少年群体具有高度相关性和可推广性。例如,针对自闭症谱系障碍儿童的研究表明他们比同龄人接触更多屏幕时间,但在本综述中,此类特定群体的研究将作为辅助信息,而非主要纳入对象12。
  2. 研究主题不符:未明确探讨短视频或社交媒体使用,或未关注注意力、睡眠和心理健康结局的文献将被排除。
  3. 非原创研究:评论、社论、会议摘要、图书章节等非原创研究将被排除,除非其为高质量的系统综述或Meta分析。
  4. 质量评估不佳:对于原创研究,将采用相应的质量评估工具(如纽卡斯尔-渥渥塔瓦量表、Cochrane偏倚风险评估工具等)进行评估。质量过低、存在严重方法学缺陷或结果不可靠的研究将被排除,例如样本量过小、测量工具未经充分验证、统计分析方法不当、混杂因素控制不足等。
  5. 无法获取全文:无法通过大学图书馆资源或作者联系方式获取全文的文献将被排除。

通过这些纳入与排除标准,本综述旨在构建一个高质量、相关性强的文献基础,从而确保后续分析的严谨性和结论的可靠性。

2.2 研究分类判定规则

为确保对现有文献的分析具有清晰的逻辑和严格的证据层级区分,本综述将研究划分为相关性研究、因果研究和干预研究三类。这种分类方法旨在突出不同研究类型在推断因果关系和评估干预效果方面的能力差异,从而更准确地评估证据的效力。在医学文献中,研究设计的层次结构是衡量证据质量的重要标准 13。

2.2.1 相关性研究 (Correlational Studies)
相关性研究主要关注短视频和社交媒体使用与青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康结局之间是否存在统计学关联,以及关联的强度和方向。这类研究通常采用横断面设计(cross-sectional design),在某一特定时间点收集数据,揭示变量之间的共现关系。例如,一项研究可能调查青少年社交媒体使用时长与报告的抑郁症状之间的相关性。

判定标准:

  • 设计特征:通常为横断面研究或初步的纵向观察研究,不涉及对暴露(短视频/社交媒体使用)或结果的实验性干预。
  • 分析方法:主要采用回归分析、相关系数、差异比较等统计方法,旨在量化变量间的关联强度。
  • 证据效力:相关性研究可以识别变量之间可能存在的联系,为后续因果研究提供假设和方向。然而,它们无法确立因果关系,因为它们不能排除反向因果(即结果可能导致暴露,而非暴露导致结果)或共同因素(混杂变量)的影响 14。在证据层次中,横断面研究通常被认为是较低级别的证据 15。

2.2.2 因果研究 (Causal Studies)
因果研究旨在确定短视频和社交媒体使用是否直接导致青少年注意力、睡眠或心理健康结局的变化。这类研究通过更严谨的设计来控制混杂因素,从而增加对因果关系的推断能力。

判定标准:

  • 设计特征:
    • 纵向追踪研究 (Longitudinal Cohort Studies):在不同时间点多次测量暴露和结局变量,以观察暴露发生在前、结局发生在后的时间顺序,从而排除反向因果的可能性 15。
    • 自然实验 (Natural Experiments):利用自然发生的事件或政策变化作为准随机分配,比较受影响和未受影响群体之间的结局差异。
    • 工具变量法 (Instrumental Variable Methods):利用一个与暴露相关但仅通过暴露影响结局的变量作为工具变量,以减少混杂和反向因果的影响 16。例如,孟德尔随机化 (Mendelian randomization) 是一种利用遗传变异作为工具变量来推断因果关系的常见方法 17 18。
    • 随机对照试验 (Randomized Controlled Trials, RCTs):通过随机分配受试者到干预组和对照组,最大限度地减少混杂因素的影响,从而提供最强的因果证据 13 15。虽然在数字媒体使用领域实施严格的RCTs可能存在伦理和实践挑战,但一些研究会通过限制使用时间或内容等方式进行准实验干预。
  • 分析方法:采用专门的因果推断统计方法(如结构方程模型、倾向评分匹配、双重差分等)来处理混杂因素,或通过实验设计直接控制这些因素。
  • 证据效力:因果研究提供了更高质量的证据,特别是在消除混杂和确立时间顺序方面 13。RCTs通常被认为是提供因果证据的“金标准” 1315,而高质量的纵向研究、自然实验和利用工具变量的方法也能够提供较强的因果推断依据。

2.2.3 干预研究 (Intervention Studies)
干预研究旨在评估通过改变短视频和社交媒体使用模式来改善青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的策略或计划的有效性。

判定标准:

  • 设计特征:
    • 随机对照试验 (RCTs):将参与者随机分配到接受干预的组和不接受干预(或接受安慰剂/常规护理)的对照组。
    • 准实验设计 (Quasi-experimental Designs):例如,前后对照研究、非随机对照组试验等,虽然缺乏随机化,但仍通过预设的干预措施来评估效果。
  • 分析方法:主要关注干预前后或干预组与对照组之间结局变量的变化。通常采用效应量计算(如标准化均数差、风险比等)和适当的统计推断方法来评估干预效果 19。
  • 证据效力:干预研究,特别是RCTs,在评估特定干预措施的有效性方面提供最高级别的证据 1315。它们可以直接指导政策制定和实践干预,以改善青少年的健康结局。系统性综述和Meta分析通过整合多个高质量干预研究的结果,能够提供最高水平的证据 132021222324。

通过上述分类标准,本综述将能够清晰地呈现不同研究类型所提供的证据,并据此对短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠及心理健康影响的复杂性进行全面且有层次的评估。

3. 相关性研究的证据整合与异质性分析

3.1 与青少年注意力的关联特征

短视频和社交媒体的普及对青少年的注意力产生了显著影响,现有大量相关性研究探讨了不同使用行为与注意力分散、持续注意力下降、冲动控制能力减弱之间的关联。这些研究普遍指出,过度使用数字媒体,特别是短视频和社交媒体,与青少年注意缺陷/多动障碍(ADHD)症状的增加密切相关 2526。一项针对美国9-10岁青少年的大规模研究发现,较高的屏幕时间与包括ADHD症状在内的多种心理健康问题存在关联 27。

使用行为与注意力分散、持续注意力下降及冲动控制减弱的关联:

  • 使用时长和频率:多项研究表明,青少年屏幕时间的增加与注意力问题呈正相关 2528。特别是学龄前儿童和男孩,过度屏幕时间与发育和行为问题(包括ADHD)的关联更为显著 25。一项对儿童注意力的系统综述指出,大多数研究发现屏幕时间与儿童注意力之间存在关联,过度的屏幕暴露可能导致注意力问题 28。在青少年群体中,长期的屏幕暴露也与注意力缺陷、冲动控制不足和攻击行为等ADHD症状相关 26。
  • 短视频特性与认知负荷:短视频平台(如TikTok和抖音)的崛起,以其“无限滚动”界面和快速切换的内容形式,改变了用户与媒体互动的方式。一项系统性综述和Meta分析显示,短视频使用增加与较差的认知能力(中等效应量,r = -.34)相关,其中注意力(r = -.38)和抑制控制(r = -.41)表现出最强的负相关 9。这种持续且快速变化的视觉刺激可能导致青少年在处理现实世界中信息时难以维持长时间的注意力,从而影响其持续注意力和冲动控制能力。
  • 内容类型与神经机制:游戏相关内容在社交媒体上的曝光也引发了对青少年注意力的关注。研究发现,游戏相关线索能激活大脑的多个区域,包括内侧前额叶皮层、后扣带皮层、海马体和丘脑等,这些区域与奖励、记忆和注意力调控有关 29。对于过度使用短视频的大学生而言,短期(8周)太极拳干预能够改善其持续注意力和综合注意力,这从侧面印证了过度使用短视频可能损害这些认知功能 30。

不同平台类型的异质性:
不同类型的社交媒体平台可能对青少年注意力产生异质性影响。

  • 通用社交媒体平台:综合性的社交媒体平台(如Facebook、Instagram)的使用频率和沉迷程度与ADHD症状的严重程度相关。有研究发现,患有ADHD的青少年在社交媒体成瘾、孤独感和孤独特质方面得分更高 31,这提示ADHD青少年可能更易受社交媒体影响,也可能反向加剧其注意力问题。
  • 短视频平台(TikTok/抖音等):TikTok等短视频平台以其独特的算法推荐机制和高度沉浸式体验,更容易引发成瘾行为,并通过刺激多巴胺奖励系统,影响青少年的行为和注意力 32。这些平台的内容通常快速、碎片化,可能导致青少年对即时满足的依赖,进而削弱其对需要持续投入注意力的任务的耐心。
  • 其他数字媒体:一项涵盖广泛数字媒体使用(包括社交媒体、视频游戏等)的Meta分析发现,数字媒体使用与儿童青少年的健康和发展风险持续相关,特别是社交媒体 33。不同类型的数字媒体对注意力的影响可能存在细微差异,但总体趋势指向负面关联。例如,视频聊天、短信、视频和视频游戏是与抑郁症状关联最强的屏幕类型,这可能也涉及注意力的分散和认知负荷 27。

总体而言,现有相关性研究提供了强有力的证据,表明短视频和社交媒体使用与青少年注意力分散、持续注意力下降及冲动控制能力减弱之间存在显著关联。然而,这些研究大多为横断面或短期纵向研究,无法完全排除反向因果和混杂因素的影响。未来的研究需要进一步探索不同平台特点、内容属性以及个体差异在调节这些关联中的作用,并采用更严谨的方法来推断因果关系。

3.2 与青少年睡眠的关联特征

短视频和社交媒体的广泛使用已成为影响青少年睡眠健康的重要因素。大量相关性研究一致表明,数字媒体使用行为,特别是临睡前的使用,与青少年睡眠时长缩短、入睡延迟、睡眠质量下降以及日间疲惫等负面睡眠结局存在显著关联。

使用行为与睡眠结局的相关性:

  • 睡眠时长缩短:多项研究发现,青少年社交媒体使用时长与睡眠总时长呈负相关。例如,一项针对加拿大青少年的研究显示,频繁和问题性社交媒体使用与未能达到推荐睡眠时长之间存在关联,且这种关联在女孩中比男孩更强 34。另一项针对英国青少年的研究发现,每天使用社交媒体5小时以上的青少年,其睡眠起始时间更晚,且睡眠总时长可能更短 35。一项伞形综述也指出,数字设备使用(尤其是智能手机和电脑)与睡眠时长缩短密切相关 36。
  • 入睡延迟与睡眠潜伏期延长:睡前使用电子设备,特别是社交媒体,是导致青少年入睡困难和睡眠潜伏期延长的主要因素。研究表明,夜间媒体使用(NMU)与睡眠质量下降相关,例如睡前发短信与较高的匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)分数相关,表明睡眠质量较差 37。在大学新生中,睡前发短信和设备相关的睡眠中断也与卧床总时长相关 37。一项对青少年睡眠习惯的研究发现,睡前玩视频游戏会导致学校和假期期间的入睡时间显著延迟,并缩短学校期间的睡眠时长 38。此外,社交媒体使用也与较长的睡眠潜伏期相关,尤其是假期期间,这一关系通过认知睡前觉醒(presleep arousal)介导 38。
  • 睡眠质量下降与日间疲惫:社交媒体使用不仅影响睡眠的量,还影响其质。研究显示,社交媒体使用(包括睡前使用社交媒体或聊天室)与青少年报告的入睡或维持睡眠困难以及整体睡眠障碍风险增加相关 39。夜间使用社交媒体、手机游戏和发短信均与睡眠中断相关 37。问题性社交媒体使用不仅与入睡困难、睡眠时长缩短有关,还与白天疲惫感增加相关 36。一项针对脑瘫儿童和青少年的研究也发现,屏幕时间与睡眠时长、感知疲劳和运动平衡之间存在负相关 40。COVID-19疫情期间,青少年屏幕时间的急剧增加也与较差的睡眠行为(如更短的卧床时间、更晚的入睡时间和更长的入睡潜伏期)持续相关 41。甚至在意大利儿童和青少年中,疫情导致的居家隔离期间,屏幕时间的增加与睡眠时间表显著延迟和睡眠障碍的增加有关,尽管青少年组的睡眠障碍增加不如其他年龄组显著 42。
  • 社交媒体疲劳:持续的社交媒体使用还可能导致“社交媒体疲劳”(social media fatigue, SMF),即用户因感到不堪重负而倾向于退出社交媒体。SMF与焦虑和学校生活适应不良相关 43,虽然并非直接的睡眠结局,但长期的心理疲劳可能间接影响睡眠质量。

不同使用时段(如睡前1小时使用)的关联强度差异:
睡前使用电子设备的习惯对青少年睡眠的负面影响尤为突出。

  • 睡前一小时内的使用:研究普遍认为,睡前使用电子设备会显著干扰睡眠。一项系统综述指出,屏幕时间(特别是睡前使用电子产品)与入睡困难、睡眠质量差、睡眠时间短和白天嗜睡有关 44。在另一项大型多中心横断面研究中,睡前30分钟内使用电子产品的频率与睡眠健康状况呈负相关 45。手机在卧室、夜间使用屏幕(例如发短信、社交媒体、视频游戏或电视)以及晚上醒来继续进行屏幕活动,都与睡眠剥夺显著相关,并对日常功能和情绪产生负面影响 46。
  • 蓝光暴露与认知唤醒:睡前暴露于电子设备屏幕发出的蓝光会抑制褪黑激素分泌,从而延迟入睡 36。此外,睡前社交媒体上的互动、信息处理和内容刺激(例如,观看视频、玩游戏)会引起认知和情感上的唤醒,使得大脑难以进入放松状态,进一步延长入睡时间并降低睡眠质量 38。

总而言之,短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年睡眠的负面影响是多方面的,涉及睡眠时长、入睡时间、睡眠质量和日间功能。其中,临睡前的屏幕使用被认为是导致这些负面结局的关键行为。未来的研究应进一步探索这些关联的生物学机制(如蓝光影响)和心理学机制(如认知唤醒),并考虑个体差异和文化背景在这些关联中的调节作用。

3.3 与青少年心理健康的关联特征

短视频和社交媒体的广泛使用对青少年的心理健康产生了复杂而多样的影响。大量相关性研究表明,过度或问题性使用社交媒体与青少年负性心理健康结局之间存在显著关联,包括焦虑、抑郁、情绪不稳定、自尊问题和身体意象困扰等 10。然而,这种关联并非总是线性的,内容类型和社交互动模式在其中扮演着重要的调节作用 4748。

使用行为与焦虑、抑郁、情绪不稳定等负性心理健康结局的相关关系:

  • 抑郁与焦虑:多项研究发现,短视频和社交媒体使用与青少年抑郁和焦虑症状之间存在显著正相关 10。一项系统综述和Meta分析指出,社交媒体使用(包括问题性社交媒体使用)与抑郁和焦虑之间存在小而显著的正相关 10。例如,对TikTok等短视频应用的成瘾性使用与青少年更高的抑郁、焦虑和压力水平相关 49。同样,在成年人研究中也发现,网络欺凌经历在社交媒体使用程度与抑郁、焦虑和物质使用可能性之间起到中介作用,即社交媒体使用越多,越容易遭受网络欺凌,进而导致更差的心理健康状况 50。
  • 情绪不稳定与情绪失调:社交媒体的频繁使用,尤其是对青少年而言,与情绪失调(emotion dysregulation)密切相关 51。青少年在社交媒体上可能更频繁地经历情绪波动,例如因比较自身与他人而感到嫉妒、沮丧或焦虑 52。一些研究还发现,社交媒体使用与述情障碍(alexithymia)之间存在关联,即花费更多时间在社交媒体上,个体越难以识别和表达自己的情绪 53。
  • 孤独感:尽管社交媒体旨在促进连接,但过度使用有时反而会增加青少年的孤独感。研究表明,问题性互联网使用(包括社交媒体)与心理健康问题(如抑郁和焦虑)之间存在关联,而孤独感是这种关联的重要中介变量 54。尤其是在COVID-19大流行期间的社会隔离背景下,技术(包括社交媒体)在促进社交沟通和连接方面发挥了关键作用,但长期隔离也可能对青少年社交功能产生负面影响 55。
  • 身体意象问题和自尊:社交媒体上普遍存在的理想化形象,特别是对身体外貌的强调,导致青少年(尤其是年轻女性)的身体意象困扰和自尊下降 5256。通过社交媒体进行“向上比较”(upward comparison),即与那些被认为是更有吸引力的网红或同龄人比较,会显著降低个体的身体自信心,并增加对外貌和体重的满意度降低 52。

内容类型、社交互动模式对关联强度的调节作用:
社交媒体对心理健康的影响并非单一的,其具体影响强度和方向会受到所消费的内容类型和参与的社交互动模式的调节 4748。

  • 内容类型:
    • 负面或刺激性内容:频繁接触网络欺凌、暴力、不实信息或过于理想化的生活内容,可能加剧青少年的焦虑、抑郁和压力 4857。例如,对TikTok等短视频应用的成瘾性用户表现出更差的心理健康状况,包括更高的抑郁、焦虑和压力水平 49。
    • 积极或支持性内容:另一方面,社交媒体也为青少年提供了获取健康信息、寻求社会支持和连接志同道合群体的机会 4858。例如,边缘化群体(如LGBTQ+)可以通过社交媒体找到安全空间和支持网络,这有助于减轻孤独感和提升心理健康 58。心理健康相关帖子,尤其是由有经验的社交媒体影响者分享的积极治疗经历,可以鼓励追随者寻求专业帮助 59。
  • 社交互动模式:
    • 被动消费与主动参与:被动浏览(如仅仅观看他人内容而不互动)与负面情绪(如嫉妒、孤独)的关联更强,而积极互动(如发布内容、评论、与朋友交流)则可能带来更多社会支持和连接感,从而对心理健康产生积极影响 48。然而,过度追求点赞和认可也可能导致自尊的脆弱性 48。
    • 网络欺凌与社会比较:网络欺凌是社交媒体对青少年心理健康最直接的负面影响之一 4857。遭受网络欺凌的青少年更易出现抑郁、焦虑等问题 50。此外,持续的社会比较,尤其是与那些展示完美生活和身体形象的社交媒体用户比较,会加剧青少年的不安全感和自卑情绪 5256。
    • 社交连接与孤独感:社交媒体可以增强社会连接,特别是对于那些面临社会剥夺的青少年,它提供了一种维持同伴互动的方式 5860。然而,质量较低或表面化的社交互动,以及缺乏面对面交流,可能反而加剧孤独感 54。研究也指出,与非用户相比,适度使用短视频的青少年可能具有不同的家庭环境,但在心理健康或学业表现上没有差异,这表明适度使用可能并非负面 49。

综上所述,短视频和社交媒体对青少年心理健康的影响是复杂的,既有潜在的风险,也存在益处 61。负面关联主要体现在过度使用、接触有害内容和负面社交互动(如网络欺凌和不健康的社会比较)方面,这些因素可能导致或加剧焦虑、抑郁和身体意象困扰。而积极的社交互动和接触支持性内容则可能提供社会支持,促进积极的自我表达。因此,理解不同使用行为和环境因素如何调节这些关联,对于制定有针对性的干预措施至关重要。

3.4 相关性研究的异质性来源分析

短视频和社交媒体使用与青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康之间的相关性研究结果存在一定异质性,这主要源于研究设计、样本特征、测量工具和控制变量选择等方面的差异。理解这些异质性来源对于评估现有证据的可靠性,并指导未来研究至关重要。

3.4.1 样本特征差异

  • 年龄阶段:青少年是一个跨度较大的年龄群体(通常指10-24岁),不同年龄段的青少年认知发展水平、媒体使用模式和社会心理需求存在显著差异。例如,青春期早期(10-14岁)的青少年可能更容易受到社交媒体的影响,因为他们正在经历身份认同的形成,对同伴认可的需求更高;而青春期晚期(15-18岁)和青年期(19-24岁)的个体可能发展出更成熟的媒体素养和自我调节能力。因此,研究样本的平均年龄或年龄范围不同,可能导致结果的差异。
  • 性别构成:研究显示,男性和女性在社交媒体使用偏好和体验上可能存在差异,进而可能导致对心理健康影响的异质性。例如,一些研究发现女性青少年更容易受到身体意象问题和网络欺凌的影响,而男性青少年可能更容易沉迷于游戏或某些类型的内容。Meta分析也表明,问题性社交媒体使用与心理健康问题之间的关联强度在不同性别之间可能存在差异,尽管并非所有研究都发现显著的性别差异 62。
  • 社会经济背景与文化差异:来自不同社会经济背景和文化区域的青少年,其数字媒体可及性、家庭教养方式、文化价值观和社会支持系统可能有所不同,这些因素都可能调节社交媒体使用对健康结局的影响。例如,在文化背景下,对集体主义的强调可能使得社交媒体在维护社会关系方面发挥更积极的作用,而在个体主义文化中,则可能加剧社会比较和孤独感。
  • 基线心理健康状况:青少年在开始使用社交媒体前的心理健康状况(如是否存在抑郁、焦虑或注意力缺陷等倾向)也可能影响研究结果。存在基线脆弱性的青少年可能更容易发展出问题性社交媒体使用,并因此经历更严重的负面健康结局。

3.4.2 测量工具的差异

  • 社交媒体使用衡量方式:
    • 使用时长:许多研究简单地依赖青少年自我报告的社交媒体使用时长,但这种方法可能存在回忆偏差和不准确性。此外,仅关注时长而忽略使用情境、内容类型和互动模式,会限制对复杂关系的理解。
    • 问题性使用量表:衡量问题性社交媒体使用(Problematic Social Media Use, PSMU)的工具多样,如社交媒体成瘾量表(Social Media Addiction Scale)、手机成瘾量表(Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version, SAS-SV) 63 等。不同量表侧重的维度和截断点不同,可能导致对问题性使用程度的评估不一致 64。例如,SAS-SV在男孩和女孩中的最佳截断点不同 63。
    • 使用类型:未能区分主动使用(如发帖、评论)和被动使用(如浏览、观看)可能导致结果的混淆,因为这两种使用模式可能对心理健康产生不同的影响。
  • 注意力、睡眠和心理健康结局的测量方式:
    • 注意力:注意力测量工具包括自我报告问卷(如ADHD症状量表)、父母或教师报告,以及认知任务(如持续性注意力任务、冲动控制任务)。这些工具的信效度、测量敏感性和所测量的注意力维度可能存在差异。
    • 睡眠:睡眠测量包括自我报告问卷(如匹兹堡睡眠质量指数PSQI)、主观睡眠日记,以及客观测量(如腕戴式加速度计)。客观测量通常被认为更准确,但成本较高,大多数相关性研究仍依赖主观报告。
    • 心理健康:抑郁、焦虑、自尊等心理健康指标的测量同样存在多种量表,不同的量表可能捕捉到症状的不同侧面,或者在不同文化背景下具有不同的表现形式。

3.4.3 控制变量的选择

  • 混杂因素:许多影响青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的因素(如学业压力、家庭环境、同伴关系、体育活动水平、其他屏幕活动时间等)也与社交媒体使用相关。如果研究未能充分控制这些潜在的混杂变量,观察到的相关性可能并非社交媒体使用本身造成,而是由未控制的第三方因素所解释。例如,家庭冲突可能同时导致青少年更多使用社交媒体以寻求逃避,并引发心理健康问题。
  • 调节变量:一些研究可能忽视了重要调节变量的作用,如媒体素养、亲子关系质量、同伴支持等。这些因素可能影响社交媒体使用与健康结局之间关联的方向和强度。例如,良好的亲子沟通可能作为保护性因素,缓解社交媒体的负面影响。

综上所述,相关性研究的异质性提醒我们在解读研究结果时需持谨慎态度。未来的研究应努力提高方法学严谨性,统一测量工具,控制潜在混杂因素,并探索不同样本特征和情境因素的调节作用,以期获得更具一致性和可解释性的结论。

4. 因果效应识别的研究进展与共识争议

4.1 青少年群体中因果效应识别的常用方法

在探究短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康影响的因果关系时,研究者面临着多重挑战,例如如何区分因果方向(是社交媒体使用导致健康问题,还是健康问题促使青少年更多使用社交媒体),以及如何控制可能同时影响社交媒体使用和健康结局的混杂因素。为克服这些挑战,现有研究采用了多种因果识别方法,每种方法都有其独特的适用场景、优势和局限性。

4.1.1 纵向追踪设计 (Longitudinal Tracking Design)
纵向追踪设计通过在多个时间点反复测量同一批研究对象的暴露(社交媒体使用)和结局(注意力、睡眠或心理健康),来观察变量间的时间顺序。如果社交媒体使用发生在健康结局变化之前,则可以为因果推断提供初步证据。

  • 优势:能够建立时间先后顺序,从而排除反向因果的某些可能性。例如,Nagata等人的研究利用长达3年的随访数据发现,高于个体平均水平的社交媒体使用与次年的抑郁症状增加相关,而抑郁症状并未与随后的社交媒体使用相关联 65。这为社交媒体使用对抑郁症状的因果影响提供了纵向证据。此外,该设计允许研究者追踪个体发展轨迹,识别风险和保护因素。
  • 局限性:尽管能建立时间顺序,但仍难以完全排除未测量混杂因素的影响。例如,即使社交媒体使用先于抑郁症状出现,也可能有其他未被测量的因素同时导致社交媒体使用增加和抑郁症状发展。此外,青少年样本的流失率可能较高,影响研究的代表性。

4.1.2 自然实验 (Natural Experiments)
自然实验利用自然发生的事件、政策变化或环境条件,这些事件或政策变化在没有研究者干预的情况下,随机或准随机地将个体分配到不同的暴露组中。研究者可以比较这些组之间的健康结局差异,以推断因果关系。

  • 优势:在某些情况下,自然实验能够提供接近随机对照试验的因果推断能力,因为它利用了外部冲击来创造“实验组”和“对照组”。例如,某个地区突然出现互联网服务中断,或某项关于社交媒体使用的政策出台,都可以被视为自然实验的契机。
  • 局限性:自然实验的发生是不可预测和控制的,机会较少。此外,很难找到完美的“准随机”分配,可能仍然存在一些未被控制的混杂因素。结果的泛化性也可能受限于特定事件或政策的背景。

4.1.3 工具变量法 (Instrumental Variable Method)
工具变量法是一种统计方法,用于处理混杂和内生性问题,以估计因果效应。一个有效的工具变量(IV)必须满足三个条件:(1) 与核心暴露(如社交媒体使用)强相关;(2) 仅通过核心暴露影响结局(如心理健康),而不能通过其他路径直接影响结局;(3) 与暴露和结局的共同混杂因素不相关。

  • 优势:能够有效解决反向因果和未测量混杂因素带来的偏差,从而提供更可信的因果估计。在流行病学和心理学研究中,孟德尔随机化 (Mendelian Randomization) 是一个日益流行的工具变量应用,它利用基因变异作为工具变量来推断环境暴露(如社交媒体使用倾向)与健康结局之间的因果关系。
  • 局限性:寻找满足所有条件的强而有效的工具变量非常困难。弱工具变量会导致估计偏差,并降低统计效率。此外,工具变量法的假设(特别是第二和第三条件)通常无法直接检验,需要依赖于领域知识的合理性假设。

4.1.4 随机对照试验 (Randomized Controlled Trials, RCTs)
随机对照试验被认为是因果推断的“金标准”。通过将参与者随机分配到干预组(例如,限制社交媒体使用)和对照组(例如,常规使用或替代活动),研究者可以确保两组在研究开始时具有可比性,从而最大程度地消除混杂因素的影响。

  • 优势:通过随机化,RCTs能够有效平衡已知和未知的混杂因素,从而提供最直接和最有力的因果证据。例如,一些干预研究通过限制青少年屏幕时间来观察其对睡眠和心理健康的影响,以评估因果效应。
  • 局限性:在社交媒体使用领域实施严格的RCTs面临伦理和实践上的挑战。例如,要求青少年完全停止或显著限制社交媒体使用可能难以实施和维持,并可能引发伦理争议。此外,干预效果的持续时间以及在真实世界中的泛化性也可能受到限制。在青少年心理健康干预方面,已有针对抑郁症的在线单次干预试验取得了积极效果,表明干预是可行的 66。但这些研究通常是针对已有症状的群体,而非探讨社交媒体使用的因果效应。

综上所述,不同因果识别方法在青少年群体中具有不同的适用性和证据强度。未来的研究应尽可能采用多方法学路径,结合纵向追踪、自然实验、工具变量法和准实验设计,以期更全面、准确地揭示短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的复杂因果关系。

4.2 对注意力的因果效应证据

短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力的因果效应是一个复杂且持续争议的领域。尽管大量相关性研究表明两者之间存在关联,但确定因果方向和潜在机制需要更严谨的研究设计。现有因果研究试图通过纵向追踪、自然实验和准实验方法来揭示短视频与社交媒体使用对青少年注意力损害的验证结论,同时也暴露出当前存在的因果方向争议与待澄清机制。

4.2.1 短视频与社交媒体使用对青少年注意力损害的验证结论

  • 执行功能下降与注意力控制:一些研究提供了短视频和社交媒体使用导致青少年注意力功能下降的证据。例如,一项针对大学生的研究发现,短视频成瘾不仅直接影响学业拖延,还通过“注意力控制”这一执行功能间接影响学业拖延 67。这意味着短视频的过度使用可能会损害个体的注意力控制能力,进而影响学业表现。注意力控制是执行功能的核心组成部分,涉及维持专注、抑制干扰信息和灵活转换注意力的能力。
  • ADHD症状的加剧:有研究表明,问题性数字媒体使用(Problematic Digital Media Use, PDMU)与青少年注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)核心症状的加重存在因果关联。一项针对ADHD青少年的研究发现,患有PDMU的ADHD儿童表现出更严重的注意力不集中、对立违抗行为和情绪问题,以及更严重的执行功能缺陷 68。虽然这项研究是相关性的,但它支持了数字媒体使用可能加剧ADHD症状的假设,提示了潜在的因果方向。此外,ADHD与问题性社交媒体使用之间存在持续关联,ADHD青少年似乎比普通青少年表现出更多的问题性社交媒体使用行为 69。这种关联可能意味着ADHD青少年更容易受到社交媒体的影响,而社交媒体的使用也可能反过来加剧其注意缺陷。
  • 持续注意力与冲动控制:短视频内容的快节奏和高刺激性特征被认为是影响青少年持续注意力和冲动控制的关键因素。研究认为,短视频通过提供即时满足和持续的多巴胺刺激,可能训练用户对快速变化的信息做出反应,从而削弱其在需要长时间专注任务上的表现。然而,直接的因果实验证据,如随机对照试验来证明短视频导致持续注意力下降或冲动控制减弱,在青少年群体中仍然较少。

4.2.2 当前存在的因果方向争议与待澄清机制

尽管有证据表明短视频和社交媒体使用可能损害青少年注意力,但因果方向的争议依然存在。这主要体现在以下几个方面:

  • 反向因果关系:一种普遍的观点是,注意力缺陷(如ADHD症状)的青少年可能更容易被短视频和社交媒体吸引,并更倾向于问题性使用,因为这些平台能够提供持续的刺激和即时满足,从而暂时缓解其注意不集中和冲动控制困难。例如,具有ADHD症状的青少年在社交媒体使用方面表现出更高的问题性 70。这种“自我药疗”或“弥补”行为使得区分是社交媒体导致注意力问题,还是注意力问题导致社交媒体过度使用变得复杂。
  • 共同混杂因素:除了反向因果,许多其他因素也可能同时影响青少年的数字媒体使用习惯和注意力水平,例如家庭环境、同伴关系、心理健康状况(如焦虑、抑郁)、学业压力等。如果这些混杂因素未被充分控制,观察到的因果关系可能被夸大或出现偏差。例如,孤独感、社交焦虑和内部化症状都与问题性社交媒体使用相关 70,而这些心理健康问题本身也可能与注意力困难交织。
  • 神经生物学机制:短视频和社交媒体对注意力影响的神经生物学机制尚待充分澄清。虽然有理论指出,过度使用可能影响大脑的奖励系统(如多巴胺通路)和前额叶皮层(负责执行功能和注意力控制),从而改变注意力的调节能力,但直接的神经影像学因果证据在青少年群体中仍相对稀缺。未来的研究需要利用更先进的神经科学技术(如fMRI、EEG)来探究短视频消费如何改变青少年的脑功能和结构,进而影响注意力。
  • 内容类型与互动模式的异质性影响:并非所有的短视频和社交媒体使用都必然导致注意力损害。不同类型的内容(如教育性 vs 娱乐性,积极 vs 消极)和不同的互动模式(如被动浏览 vs 主动创造/互动)可能对注意力产生异质性影响。目前,关于特定内容类型或互动模式如何精确地介导因果效应的研究还不够深入。
  • 个体差异:青少年个体的脆弱性(如是否存在ADHD易感性、冲动控制能力差异、心理弹性)也可能调节短视频和社交媒体使用对注意力的因果效应。例如,患有ADHD的青少年可能更容易受到问题性社交媒体使用的影响 69。

综上所述,虽然有初步证据表明短视频和社交媒体使用可能对青少年注意力产生负面影响,特别是通过影响注意力控制和加剧ADHD症状,但关于因果方向的确定性和深层机制的阐明仍需更多高质量的因果研究。未来的研究应采用更严格的纵向设计、自然实验、工具变量法以及可能的小规模随机对照试验,并结合神经影像学和心理生理学方法,以更全面地理解这一复杂的因果关系。

4.3 对睡眠的因果效应证据

短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年睡眠的负面影响已在相关性研究中得到广泛证实,但因果关系的确定需要更严格的证据,尤其是在排除反向因果(即睡眠障碍本身导致青少年更多使用数字媒体)和混杂因素之后。近年来,一些因果研究尝试通过纵向追踪、干预试验和利用特定机制来阐明数字媒体使用对青少年睡眠的因果效应。

4.3.1 排除反向因果后的使用行为对睡眠的负向影响证据

  • 纵向研究揭示的时间优先性:多项纵向研究提供了数字媒体使用在时间上先于睡眠问题的证据,从而削弱了反向因果的可能性。一项针对挪威青少年的大型横断面研究发现,白天和睡前使用电子设备都与睡眠不足、入睡时间长和睡眠质量差相关,并存在剂量反应关系,例如使用电脑与睡眠少于5小时的风险显著相关 71。虽然是横断面研究,但其结论支持了数字设备使用对睡眠的负面影响。近期的一项系统综述也强调,设备过度使用、问题性使用以及网络欺凌等因素对睡眠质量和时长造成了负面影响 72。一项伞形综述进一步总结,数字设备使用对睡眠时长、睡前拖延和睡眠质量有负面影响,特别是社交媒体和互联网的使用,问题性使用会导致入睡延迟、睡眠时长缩短 36。
  • 干预研究的因果推断:虽然针对短视频和社交媒体使用对睡眠的随机对照试验(RCTs)相对较少,但一些干预研究通过限制屏幕时间来观察对睡眠的影响。例如,一项国家睡眠基金会(National Sleep Foundation)的共识声明指出,总体的屏幕使用和睡前内容消费都会损害儿童和青少年的睡眠健康 73。该声明基于对522篇实证文章和52篇综述文章的筛选,其中包含35项实验/干预研究,旨在探究屏幕媒体与睡眠之间的因果联系 73。这表明,有一定数量的干预研究支持屏幕使用对睡眠的因果效应。此外,该共识也指出,行为策略和干预措施可以减轻屏幕使用对睡眠健康的潜在负面影响 73。
  • 睡眠障碍与数字媒体使用的双向关系:一些纵向研究指出,数字媒体使用与睡眠问题之间可能存在双向因果关系。例如,一项系统综述发现,数字媒体使用与注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)症状之间存在互惠关联,而ADHD症状本身就与睡眠障碍高度共病 74。这意味着,睡眠障碍可能使个体更容易过度使用数字媒体,而过度使用数字媒体又可能反过来加剧睡眠问题,形成恶性循环。因此,在评估因果效应时,需要特别注意排除这种复杂的双向影响。

4.3.2 相关中介变量的作用:蓝光暴露与情绪唤起

在数字媒体使用影响青少年睡眠的因果路径中,蓝光暴露和情绪唤起是两个重要的中介机制。

  • 蓝光暴露:

    • 褪黑素抑制:电子设备屏幕发出的蓝光,特别是睡前暴露于蓝光,会抑制褪黑素(melatonin)的分泌。褪黑素是一种调节睡眠-觉醒周期的关键激素。其分泌减少会导致生理节律紊乱,进而延迟入睡时间,缩短睡眠时长 75。一项网络分析研究发现,蓝光暴露与睡眠问题之间存在最强的直接关联(r = 0.31),这进一步强调了蓝光在数字睡眠中断中的核心作用 76。
    • 昼夜节律紊乱:蓝光暴露导致的褪黑素抑制会进一步引起昼夜节律(circadian rhythm)的改变。青少年的昼夜节律本身就倾向于晚睡晚起,而蓝光暴露会进一步推迟他们的睡眠时相,导致“社交时差”(social jetlag)效应,即工作日和周末睡眠时间不一致,从而影响整体睡眠健康 75。
  • 情绪唤起与认知刺激:

    • 生理唤起:睡前观看短视频或进行社交媒体互动,特别是那些具有高刺激性、互动性或引人入胜的内容,会使大脑处于活跃状态,增加生理唤起水平。例如,玩游戏或观看紧张的视频内容会导致心率加快、呼吸急促,使身体难以放松进入睡眠状态。
    • 认知过载与情绪失调:社交媒体上的社交互动(如点赞、评论、信息回复)以及接触到大量信息,可能会导致青少年在睡前经历认知过载、压力、焦虑或兴奋等情绪 77。这种情绪上的过度唤起会延长入睡潜伏期,降低睡眠效率。一项研究发现,社交媒体焦虑和数字信息过载在数字技术使用与失眠之间发挥中介作用 77。即使没有直接的社交互动,单纯的“害怕错过”(fear of missing out, FoMO)或对信息的持续关注也可能导致睡前难以平静心情。
    • 多任务处理:青少年在睡前使用数字设备时,常伴有多任务处理行为(如一边看电视一边玩手机),这种行为已被证明与睡眠问题相关 78。多任务处理会进一步增加认知负荷,导致大脑难以放松。

总而言之,现有因果证据支持短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年睡眠的负面影响,特别是睡前使用。这些影响主要通过蓝光暴露引起的褪黑素抑制和昼夜节律紊乱,以及内容刺激和社交互动导致的情绪唤起和认知过载等机制来介导。未来的研究应进一步利用客观测量方法(如脑电图、活动记录仪)和更严格的实验设计,以更精细地解析这些因果路径及其对不同睡眠参数的具体影响。

4.4 对心理健康的因果效应证据

短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年心理健康的因果效应是当前研究的热点和难点。尽管大量相关性研究指出了两者之间的关联,但要明确“使用导致心理问题”还是“心理问题促使更多使用”,抑或两者互为因果,需要严谨的因果研究设计。现有研究通过纵向追踪、干预实验等方法,尝试揭示使用行为与青少年抑郁、焦虑等心理健康问题之间的因果方向,并探讨不同内容属性(积极/消极内容)的异质性因果效应。

4.4.1 使用行为与青少年抑郁、焦虑等心理健康问题的因果方向验证结论

  • 纵向研究提供的因果线索:
    • 社交媒体使用导致抑郁症状增加:多项纵向研究已提供了社交媒体使用对青少年抑郁症状的因果证据。例如,一项对近1.2万名9-10岁儿童进行为期3年随访的研究发现,在基线后的第一年和第二年,高于个体平均水平的社交媒体使用与次年的抑郁症状增加显著相关。然而,抑郁症状并未与随后的社交媒体使用相关联,这有力地支持了社交媒体使用对抑郁症状的单向因果效应 65。另一项针对英国青少年的纵向观察研究,虽然在调整混杂因素后,社交媒体使用时间与两年后的心理健康问题之间未显示出显著的线性关联,但未调整的路径分析显示,68%的社交媒体使用对心理健康的影响是由自尊介导的 79。这提示社交媒体可能通过影响自尊间接导致心理健康问题,构成复杂的因果链条。
    • 不同使用模式的差异影响:研究还指出,并非所有的社交媒体使用都具有相同的因果效应。一项针对美国青少年的队列研究发现,每天使用社交媒体超过3小时,与内部化问题(如抑郁、焦虑)和内部化/外部化共病问题的风险增加显著相关,尤其是在青少年时期 80。这表明,社交媒体使用的“量”可能是一个重要的因果风险因素。
  • 双向因果关系或复杂互惠效应:一些研究认为,社交媒体使用与青少年心理健康之间可能存在复杂的双向关系。例如,精神疾病患者、特定社交媒体体验(如网络欺凌、网络性骚扰)以及对社交媒体的恐惧(如害怕错过,FOMO)都可能影响精神健康,同时精神疾病也可能通过心理健康传染的媒介作用于社交媒体 81。一项关于青少年妄想症的研究通过贝叶斯方法分析发现,负面情绪会促成妄想症,而妄想症可能影响同伴关系;但该研究未能确定问题性社交媒体使用与妄想症之间存在因果关系 82。这表明因果关系可能因具体心理健康结局而异。

4.4.2 明确不同内容属性(积极/消极内容)的异质性因果效应

社交媒体内容的性质在调节其对心理健康的因果效应方面发挥着关键作用。

  • 负面/理想化内容的影响:
    • 身体意象困扰:实验研究提供了强有力的因果证据。一项Meta分析综合了20项实验研究,发现接触“身体理想化”内容(Body-ideal content,即宣传特定审美标准的内容)显著降低了年轻女性的身体满意度(d = -0.29) 83。值得注意的是,基于视频的平台(如TikTok)上身体理想化内容导致的负面影响更大(d = -0.45),超过了基于图片的平台(如Instagram)上的影响(d = -0.25) 83。这直接证明了特定内容类型对身体意象的负面因果效应。
    • 网络欺凌与有害内容:接触网络欺凌或“触发性”(triggering)内容是社交媒体的显著风险因素,可能直接导致青少年的压力、焦虑和抑郁 84。例如,对有自杀行为住院青少年进行的访谈显示,他们报告了与社交媒体使用相关的负面体验,包括难以调节使用、与社交媒体指标相关的压力、接触“触发性”内容、敌意和刻薄、自我贬低的比较以及繁重的友谊期望 84。虽然是定性研究,但它揭示了青少年自身对有害内容负面影响的感知。
  • 积极/支持性内容的影响:
    • 促进社会连接与支持:社交媒体也可作为社会连接和社会支持的来源,对心理健康产生积极的因果效应。例如,一项随机对照试验显示,在线同伴主导的干预措施在COVID-19大流行期间显著提高了青少年的心理幸福感、社会连接度、应对技能、目标感、自尊和自我同情 85。这表明,结构化的、以同伴支持为基础的社交媒体互动可以作为一种有效的干预手段,促进青少年的心理健康。
    • 身体积极性内容:与身体理想化内容相反,Meta分析显示,接触“身体积极性”内容(Body-positive content,即鼓励接受和喜爱自己身体的内容)显著改善了年轻女性的身体满意度(d = 0.20) 83。这提供了社交媒体内容可能作为保护因素的直接因果证据。
    • 获取健康信息和支持:社交媒体为青少年提供了获取心理健康信息和支持的渠道。特别是对于面临困境的青少年,社交媒体可以成为寻求帮助和建立支持网络的重要平台 84。

4.4.3 因果方向争议与待澄清机制

尽管因果研究取得进展,但关于社交媒体与心理健康之间因果关系的全面理解仍存在争议和待澄清之处:

  • 复杂交互作用:许多研究表明,社交媒体使用与心理健康问题并非简单的线性因果关系,而是多因素复杂交互的结果。个体特征(如人格特质、脆弱性)、使用模式(主动/被动)、内容接触、社会比较、网络欺凌、睡眠剥夺以及生活事件等多种因素共同作用,使得因果机制难以单一归因 8186。
  • 测量方法的挑战:大多数研究仍依赖自我报告,可能存在回忆偏差和社会赞许效应。此外,对“社交媒体使用”的定义过于宽泛,未能细致区分不同平台、功能和内容的差异影响 87。未来需要开发更客观、精细的测量方法来捕捉真实的数字媒体使用行为及其对心理健康的微观影响。
  • 长期效应的证据缺乏:虽然一些纵向研究提供了短期或中期的因果证据,但社交媒体长期使用对青少年心理健康的累积性因果效应,以及这些效应在青少年后期和成年期的延续性,仍需更长期的追踪研究来阐明。
  • 神经生物学机制的探索:社交媒体使用如何通过神经生物学路径影响心理健康,例如对大脑奖励系统、情绪调节回路和社会认知网络的影响,是未来因果研究的重要方向。
  • 反向因果的持续挑战:尽管部分纵向研究排除了反向因果,但对于某些心理健康问题(如社交焦虑),青少年可能为了避免面对面互动而更多地转向社交媒体,或者已经存在抑郁或焦虑的青少年可能更容易陷入问题性社交媒体使用,以寻求逃避或即时满足。这种“自我选择”效应需要更复杂的统计模型或更严格的准实验设计来加以控制。

综上,现有因果研究已初步证实了短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年抑郁、身体意象等心理健康的负面因果效应,并强调了内容属性的关键调节作用。然而,因果关系的复杂性、多种混杂因素的存在以及对机制的深入理解,仍是未来研究需要重点关注的领域。

5. 干预措施的效果评估与实践局限

5.1 个体层面干预措施效果

针对短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的潜在负面影响,研究者和实践者开发了多种个体层面的干预措施,旨在提升青少年的数字素养、自主时间管理能力和自我调节能力。本节将评估数字素养培训、自主时间管理和使用提醒功能等个体层面干预的实际效果,并分析不同年龄群体的干预效果差异。

5.1.1 数字素养培训 (Digital Literacy Training)
数字素养培训旨在教导青少年批判性地评估在线信息、识别有害内容、理解隐私设置,以及发展负责任的数字行为。

  • 效果评估:
    • 批判性思维与内容识别:数字素养培训能够提升青少年对在线信息的辨别能力,使其更不易受虚假信息、理想化内容或网络欺凌的影响。例如,一项研究发现,提高媒体素养可以帮助青少年理解社交媒体上呈现内容的非真实性,从而减轻身体意象困扰 。
    • 应对策略:培训内容通常包括如何应对网络欺凌、如何保护个人隐私以及寻求帮助的途径,这有助于青少年在面对负面数字体验时采取更积极的应对策略。
    • 身体意象改善:一项针对青少年男孩和女孩的集群随机对照试验(SoMe社交媒体素养项目)旨在通过提升社交媒体素养来改善身体意象相关结局。结果显示,该干预在6个月的随访中,对于女孩的饮食限制和抑郁症状产生了适度的积极效果,但对男孩的效果不明显 88。这表明数字素养干预可能存在性别差异,且其效果可能较为温和,需要进一步的优化和针对性设计。
  • 实践局限:数字素养培训的效果可能受到培训内容深度、青少年参与度、家庭和学校环境支持等多种因素的影响。一次性或短期的培训可能难以产生持久的行为改变。此外,培训内容的更新速度往往跟不上数字平台和内容的快速发展。

5.1.2 自主时间管理 (Self-regulated Time Management)
自主时间管理干预旨在帮助青少年设定和执行合理的屏幕时间限制,培养自我控制能力。

  • 效果评估:
    • 减少屏幕时间:通过目标设定、自我监控和奖励机制,青少年可以学会更好地管理自己的屏幕时间。例如,一些应用程序或教育项目鼓励青少年记录其数字媒体使用时间,并设定每日限制,这有助于提高他们对自身使用习惯的认识并采取行动进行调整。
    • 提升自我效能感:成功管理屏幕时间有助于提升青少年的自我效能感和责任感,从而可能减少因过度使用社交媒体而产生的内疚或焦虑情绪。
    • 积极的生活方式:减少屏幕时间往往能为青少年腾出更多时间参与体育活动、学习、睡眠和面对面社交,这些替代活动本身就对心理健康和睡眠有益。
  • 实践局限:自主时间管理对青少年的自我控制能力要求较高,对于自控力较弱或存在问题性使用倾向的青少年可能效果不佳。此外,家庭环境(如父母的榜样作用和支持)、同伴压力以及社交媒体平台的吸引力都可能影响自主时间管理的效果。

5.1.3 使用提醒功能 (Usage Reminders)
许多短视频和社交媒体平台内置了使用提醒功能,如定时休息提醒、使用时长报告或“数字健康”工具,旨在帮助用户了解并管理自己的使用行为。

  • 效果评估:
    • 提高意识:这些提醒功能能够让青少年(和家长)更清楚地了解自己的屏幕时间,从而促使他们反思和调整使用习惯。
    • 促进休息:定时休息提醒可以帮助青少年避免长时间持续使用屏幕,有助于减轻眼睛疲劳和注意力分散。
  • 实践局限:
    • 依从性低:许多青少年可能会忽略或关闭这些提醒功能,导致其实际效果有限。平台的提醒往往可以被用户轻易关闭或延后,其强制性不足。
    • 象征性作用:平台提供的“数字健康”工具有时更多是作为一种应对外部监管压力的象征性举措,而非真正有效地引导用户减少使用。

5.1.4 不同年龄群体的干预效果差异分析

  • 早期青少年 (Early Adolescents, 10-14岁):这一年龄段的青少年认知控制能力尚未完全成熟,易受冲动和即时满足的驱动。因此,对于他们而言,数字素养培训可能需要更具互动性和趣味性,并且家庭层面的共同约定和监督至关重要。自主时间管理干预可能需要更多外部支持和明确的规则。
  • 中期青少年 (Middle Adolescents, 15-17岁):随着认知能力和社会独立性的增强,这一年龄段的青少年可能更愿意接受以自我管理和批判性思维为核心的干预。数字素养培训可以更深入地探讨复杂议题,如网络身份构建、社会影响者营销等。自主时间管理可以更多地依赖青少年自身的内在动机。
  • 晚期青少年/青年 (Late Adolescents/Young Adults, 18-24岁):该年龄段的个体通常已具备较强的自我管理能力和批判性思维。干预措施可以更侧重于培养高级数字素养,如信息伦理、数据隐私保护和利用数字工具进行积极学习和社交。然而,对于那些已形成问题性使用习惯的个体,可能需要更专业的心理干预。

总体而言,个体层面的干预措施在提升青少年数字健康方面具有一定潜力,但其效果往往受到青少年个体特征、干预设计质量和实施环境等多种因素的制约。未来的干预研究需要更注重个性化、多模式和长期性的设计,并充分考虑不同年龄段青少年的发展特点。

5.2 平台层面干预措施效果

鉴于短视频和社交媒体对青少年健康可能产生的负面影响,各平台和监管机构纷纷推出了多种平台层面的干预措施,旨在通过技术手段和管理策略来规范青少年使用行为,保护其身心健康。这些措施主要包括青少年模式、防沉迷机制、内容分级和算法优化等。

5.2.1 青少年模式与防沉迷机制

  • 实施效果:
    • 限制使用时长:许多平台(如中国的抖音、快手等)都推出了“青少年模式”,强制限制青少年用户的每日使用时长(例如,每日累计使用不超过40分钟),并在夜间(如22:00至次日06:00)禁止使用。这些措施旨在从源头上减少青少年过度使用短视频和社交媒体的时间,从而间接减少其对睡眠和注意力的负面影响。
    • 限制内容访问:青少年模式通常还会限制青少年访问某些不适宜的内容类型(如成人内容、过度暴力或血腥内容),并关闭部分功能(如充值、打赏、直播、搜索等),以营造更安全的网络环境。
    • 促进健康使用意识:通过强制性的模式切换和提醒,平台旨在提升青少年及其家长对数字健康管理的意识。
  • 实践局限:
    • 易破解性:青少年模式往往容易被用户(尤其是年龄稍大的青少年)通过各种方式绕过或破解。例如,部分青少年会使用家长的账号信息登录,或通过“教程”规避时长限制和内容审查。有研究指出,许多家长并不了解如何设置或监管青少年模式,导致其形同虚设。
    • 覆盖不足:青少年模式并非所有平台都普遍实施,且即使实施,也可能存在覆盖面不全的问题。例如,一些小型或新兴平台可能缺乏相应的技术和资源来开发和维护严格的青少年模式。此外,对于未成年人身份识别的挑战也使得平台难以对所有青少年用户强制执行。
    • 监管真空:在一些国家和地区,缺乏明确的法律法规强制平台实施和完善青少年保护机制,导致平台在实施这些措施时积极性不足或标准不一。

5.2.2 内容分级与审核

  • 实施效果:
    • 过滤有害信息:通过内容分级和严格的审核机制,平台可以主动识别并移除包含暴力、色情、欺凌、自残等有害信息的短视频和帖子,从而减少青少年接触这些内容的风险。
    • 保护用户免受不良影响:通过限制特定内容的传播,有助于保护青少年免受精神创伤、不良诱导和价值观扭曲等负面影响。例如,针对青少年自杀风险的干预,有研究强调了通过删除有害内容、限制访问某些网站和增加支持资源来降低风险的重要性 。
  • 实践局限:
    • 审核难度大:短视频和社交媒体平台每天产生海量内容,人工审核难以覆盖所有内容,且审核标准可能存在主观性。人工智能审核技术虽然在不断进步,但仍无法完全替代人工,且可能存在误判或漏判。
    • “道高一尺,魔高一丈”:不良内容的创作者会不断更新其传播方式,绕过平台审核机制,使得内容过滤成为一场持续的“猫鼠游戏”。
    • 过度审查风险:过于严格的内容审查可能导致言论自由的限制,并可能删除一些对青少年有益或中立的内容。

5.2.3 算法优化

  • 实施效果:
    • 推荐积极内容:平台可以通过优化算法,优先向青少年用户推荐教育、科学、艺术、体育等积极健康的内容,引导他们关注有益信息,培养健康的兴趣爱好。
    • 减少负面内容暴露:算法可以设计为减少青少年接触具有潜在危害性内容(如过度理想化的身体形象、煽动性言论、不健康生活方式)的概率,从而减轻这些内容对青少年心理健康的负面影响。例如,研究发现接触“身体积极性”内容可以显著改善年轻女性的身体满意度,而算法可以被优化以推荐此类内容 。
    • 平衡推荐机制:有研究提出,平台算法应考虑用户福祉,避免推荐容易引起焦虑、沉迷或不健康比较的内容,而是提供更多元化、平衡且有助于心理健康的内容。
  • 实践局限:
    • 商业利益驱动:平台算法的核心往往是最大化用户停留时长和互动率,从而实现商业变现。这可能与青少年健康福祉的目标存在冲突,导致平台在算法优化时难以完全摆脱商业利益的驱动。
    • “信息茧房”效应:过度个性化的推荐算法可能导致青少年陷入“信息茧房”,只接触到符合其现有兴趣或偏见的内容,限制了其信息获取的广度,并可能强化某些不良观念。
    • 透明度与可解释性低:平台算法的运作机制通常不透明,这使得外部监管机构和研究者难以评估其对青少年健康影响的具体作用,也难以提出有针对性的优化建议。
    • 难以捕捉复杂心理影响:算法主要基于用户行为数据进行优化,但难以精确捕捉内容对青少年心理健康的深层、复杂影响,例如情绪唤起、社会比较引发的自卑感等。

综上所述,平台层面的干预措施在规范青少年数字媒体使用、保护其身心健康方面发挥着重要作用。然而,这些措施在实际实施中面临着诸多挑战,包括易破解性、覆盖不足、监管真空、审核难度大以及商业利益与算法透明度问题。未来需要政府、平台、研究者和社会各界的共同努力,进一步完善平台治理机制,开发更有效、更智能且更具人性化的青少年保护措施。

5.3 家校层面干预措施效果

家校协同干预是应对青少年短视频和社交媒体使用负面影响的重要策略。家庭和学校作为青少年成长的重要环境,通过亲子媒介使用约定、学校媒介素养课程和校园使用管控等措施,可以共同构建健康的数字生态,促进青少年健康发展。

5.3.1 亲子媒介使用约定 (Family Media Use Plans)
亲子媒介使用约定是指家庭成员共同协商并制定关于数字媒体使用规则的协议。美国儿科学会(AAP)推荐所有家庭使用家庭媒体使用计划来选择和遵守媒体规则 89。

  • 效果评估:
    • 促进家庭沟通:制定媒介使用约定的过程本身就能促进家庭成员之间的开放沟通,增进相互理解和信任。父母有机会了解青少年的数字媒体使用习惯和需求,青少年也能表达自己的观点和担忧。
    • 建立清晰界限:约定有助于为青少年的数字媒体使用设定明确的界限,如使用时长、使用情境(如饭桌上禁用)、内容类型、睡前禁用等。这有助于青少年形成健康的数字习惯,并减少冲突。
    • 提高自我调节能力:当青少年参与到规则的制定中时,他们更有可能遵守这些规则,并逐渐培养自我管理和自我调节的能力。
    • 对睡眠、体力活动和抑郁的影响:一项随机临床试验研究了家庭媒体使用计划对青少年媒体规则参与度的影响,并将其作为次要结果评估了对睡眠、体力活动和抑郁的影响 89。然而,该研究发现,完成家庭媒体使用计划并未导致青少年媒体规则参与度发生统计学上的显著变化 89。这表明,仅仅完成计划可能不足以产生显著效果,还需要父母的积极引导和持续监督。
  • 实践局限:
    • 执行困难:即使有约定,父母也可能难以持续有效地监督执行,尤其是在青少年年龄增长后,其自主性和隐私需求增强。
    • 父母数字素养不足:一些父母可能缺乏足够的数字素养来理解短视频和社交媒体的复杂性,难以制定出合理有效的约定。
    • 青少年抵触情绪:如果约定过于严苛或未能充分考虑青少年的意见,可能引发他们的抵触情绪,导致约定流于形式。
    • 有效性证据有待加强:上述研究表明,现有家庭媒体使用计划在提高青少年媒体规则参与度方面的效果有限,需要重新审视和修订计划,并探索技术作为干预结果的重要性 89。

5.3.2 学校媒介素养课程 (School Media Literacy Curricula)
学校媒介素养课程旨在通过正规教育体系,系统地培养青少年批判性思考、评估和创造媒体内容的能力。

  • 效果评估:
    • 提升批判性思维:媒介素养课程能够教导青少年如何辨别信息的真伪、理解媒体内容的建构过程、识别商业宣传和有害信息,从而增强其对数字内容的免疫力。例如,亨利·詹金斯(Henry Jenkins)强调了媒体教育在培养21世纪参与式文化中关键素养的重要性,包括批判性分析、参与和共享能力 90。
    • 改善媒体使用行为:一项对暴力预防媒介素养课程“Beyond Blame”的评估发现,与对照组相比,接受课程的学生在媒体素养的五个核心概念知识方面有所提高,并更能认识到媒体暴力对观看者的影响以及通过减少观看进行自我保护。更重要的是,在行为方面,对照组学生更容易在后续评估中报告每日媒体消费≥8小时,以及推搡或威胁他人等攻击行为的增加,而在接受课程的学生中,这些行为没有增加 91。这表明媒介素养课程可能有助于改善青少年的媒体使用行为和减少攻击性。
    • 促进健康价值观:课程还可以引导青少年思考数字公民责任、网络伦理以及积极利用数字工具进行学习和社交。
  • 实践局限:
    • 课程设置与教师培训:并非所有学校都普遍设置媒介素养课程,且教师可能缺乏相关培训和资源。
    • 内容更新速度:数字媒体技术和内容发展迅速,课程内容需要不断更新以保持其相关性和有效性。
    • 理论与实践脱节:有时课程内容可能过于理论化,未能有效转化为青少年日常的媒体使用行为改变。

5.3.3 校园使用管控 (School-based Usage Management)
校园使用管控是指学校对学生在校期间的数字设备使用进行管理和限制的措施。

  • 效果评估:
    • 减少课堂干扰:禁止或限制在校期间使用手机等个人数字设备,可以显著减少课堂上的分心现象,提高学生的学习效率和注意力集中程度。
    • 促进面对面交流:限制数字设备的使用可以鼓励学生在课间和午餐时间进行更多的面对面交流,增强现实社交技能。
    • 减轻网络欺凌:在学校环境中限制数字设备使用,可以有效减少网络欺凌事件在校内的发生和蔓延,营造更安全的校园氛围。
  • 实践局限:
    • 执行难度:学校在执行手机禁令或使用限制时面临诸多挑战,如学生偷偷使用、规避管理等。
    • 紧急情况沟通:在紧急情况下,学生与家长的沟通可能受阻,引发家长担忧。
    • 数字鸿沟:过度严格的管控可能使得部分学生无法有效利用数字资源进行学习,加剧数字鸿沟。
    • 学生抵触:如果管控措施过于一刀切,可能引发学生的逆反心理和抵触情绪。

5.3.4 现有干预的可推广经验

  • 多主体协同:最有效的家校干预往往是多主体协同的结果。政府、平台、学校、家庭和社会应共同努力,形成合力。例如,数字平台影响着家庭与学校合作的动态,通过数字平台,父母的参与度、师生互动和在线交流都会增强,最终促进更强的家校伙伴关系 9293。
  • 个性化与弹性:鉴于青少年个体差异大,干预措施应更具个性化和弹性,充分考虑青少年的年龄、发展阶段、心理特点和家庭背景。一刀切的规定往往难以奏效。
  • 榜样作用:父母和老师的榜样作用至关重要。父母自身的数字媒体使用习惯会直接影响青少年,老师在课堂上积极引导、合理利用数字工具也能为学生树立榜样。
  • 将技术作为工具而非敌人:不应一味禁止数字媒体使用,而应引导青少年将其作为学习、创造和积极社交的工具,培养其健康的数字习惯。数字健康干预(DHI)作为一种创新且可扩展的工具,旨在促进青少年心理健康 94。
  • 持续性教育与支持:媒介素养教育不应是一次性的,而应是一个持续的过程,贯穿青少年成长的不同阶段。同时,为家庭和学校提供持续的支持和资源,帮助他们更好地应对数字挑战。
  • 家长参与:研究表明,家长参与在促进学生健康发展中具有关键作用 9596。有效的家校合作模型需要将家长视为平等的伙伴,鼓励他们积极参与到孩子的教育过程中 97。

总而言之,家校层面干预在青少年数字健康管理中发挥着不可替代的作用。尽管存在一些实践局限,但通过加强多主体协同、提供个性化和持续性支持、发挥榜样作用,并不断优化干预策略,可以有效地促进青少年健康、负责任地使用短视频和社交媒体。

5.4 干预研究的局限与未来方向

尽管个体、平台和家校层面的干预措施在一定程度上取得了积极效果,但在实践中仍面临诸多局限,且现有干预研究也存在不足。深入分析这些局限并展望未来研究方向,对于开发更有效、可持续的干预策略至关重要。

5.4.1 现有干预研究的局限性

  1. 证据等级不足:许多干预研究,特别是个体和家校层面的干预,多采用准实验设计或单一组前后对比研究,缺乏随机对照试验(RCT)等高等级证据。这使得难以确定观察到的效果是否完全归因于干预本身,或是否存在混杂因素的影响。
  2. 测量与评估挑战:
    • 效果量化困难:注意力、睡眠和心理健康等结局指标的测量往往依赖主观报告,易受社会赞许效应和回忆偏差影响。客观测量工具(如脑电图、活动记录仪)的使用仍不普及。
    • 长期效果评估不足:大多数干预研究关注短期效果,缺乏对干预效果持久性和青少年长期发展轨迹的追踪。短期的行为改变是否能转化为长期的健康习惯和积极的心理福祉,仍需更多研究。
    • 生态效度问题:干预研究通常在受控环境下进行,其结果在真实世界复杂情境中的泛化能力有待验证。
  3. 干预依从性与覆盖面:
    • 青少年依从性低:个体层面的干预(如自主时间管理、使用提醒)往往对青少年的自我控制能力要求较高,依从性难以保障。平台层面的青少年模式也常被规避。
    • 家长参与不足:家校层面干预的效果与家长参与度密切相关,但家长往往因时间、知识或意愿等因素,参与度不足。
    • 干预覆盖面有限:高质量的媒介素养课程或针对性心理干预难以普及到所有有需求的青少年,尤其是在资源匮乏的地区。
  4. 未充分考虑个体差异:现有干预措施多采用“一刀切”的方法,未能充分考虑青少年在年龄、性别、性格、家庭背景、数字素养基线以及数字媒体使用习惯等方面的个体差异。例如,对于存在心理健康脆弱性的青少年,通用性干预可能效果不佳或需要更强的支持。
  5. 缺乏对潜在机制的探索:许多干预研究仅关注干预“有效”与否,而未能深入探讨干预是如何发挥作用的,即缺乏对干预影响心理机制的分析。例如,媒介素养培训是通过提升批判性思维、减少社会比较还是增强自我效能感来改善心理健康,其具体路径尚不明确。

5.4.2 未来研究方向展望

  1. 采用更严谨的实验设计:未来干预研究应优先采用随机对照试验(RCTs)或准实验设计与严格的统计学方法相结合,以提供更高质量的因果证据。例如,开展针对短视频平台新功能或政策调整的自然实验,评估其对青少年健康结局的影响。
  2. 多学科交叉与技术赋能:结合心理学、教育学、计算机科学、神经科学等多学科知识,开发基于人工智能、大数据分析的个性化干预方案。例如,利用可穿戴设备和生物反馈技术,实时监测青少年情绪、睡眠等生理指标,并提供精准的干预建议。
  3. 开发个性化、自适应干预:根据青少年的个体特征(如年龄、发展阶段、心理弹性、使用习惯)和需求,设计个性化、自适应的干预方案。利用机器学习等技术,动态调整干预内容和强度,提高干预的精准性和有效性。
  4. 加强机制探索研究:深入研究干预措施影响青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的具体认知、情感、行为和神经生物学机制,从而优化干预设计。例如,探究数字素养如何通过改变社会比较过程来影响身体意象。
  5. 注重长期效果和生态效度:开展长期追踪研究,评估干预措施的长期效果和维持机制。同时,将干预研究推广到真实世界的复杂情境中,以提高其生态效度。
  6. 整合多层次干预:将个体、平台和家校层面的干预措施有机结合,形成协同效应。例如,平台提供技术支持(如可定制的青少年模式),家庭提供情感支持和共同约定,学校提供媒介素养教育,从而构建一个全方位的保护网络。
  7. 文化适应性研究:鉴于不同文化背景下青少年的数字媒体使用模式和价值观存在差异,未来干预研究应注重文化适应性,开发符合特定文化背景的干预方案。

通过上述研究方向的努力,有望突破现有干预研究的局限,为青少年数字健康提供更科学、更有效的干预策略。

6. 政策制定的参考依据与优化路径

6.1 行业监管政策制定依据

基于现有关于短视频与社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠及心理健康影响的系统性研究,政策制定者在行业监管方面应有明确的科学依据,以构建更健全的青少年数字保护体系。监管政策的制定应着眼于预防和减轻潜在负面影响,同时促进青少年健康、积极地利用数字媒体。

6.1.1 强制实施青少年模式与严格的身份验证

  • 政策依据:相关性研究和因果研究均表明,长时间、不加限制地使用短视频和社交媒体与青少年注意力分散、睡眠不足及心理健康问题存在显著关联。虽然平台已推出青少年模式,但其易破解性和覆盖不足是主要实践局限。
  • 政策方向:
    1. 强制性青少年模式:所有向未成年人提供服务的短视频和社交媒体平台,应被强制要求提供并默认开启青少年模式。而非仅仅作为可选功能,以确保未成年用户在首次登录或注册时自动进入受限环境。
    2. 强化身份验证机制:政府应出台标准,要求平台建立更严格、更可靠的未成年用户身份验证系统(例如,结合生物识别技术、国家身份认证系统或更安全的家长授权流程),防止未成年人冒用成年账号或绕过模式限制。例如,在中国,部分平台已要求用户通过实名认证来区分未成年用户,但仍存在漏洞。
    3. 时长和时段限制的强制性:青少年模式应强制设定每日使用时长上限(例如,每日累计不超过40-60分钟,具体时长可基于实证研究动态调整)和夜间禁用时段(例如,22:00至次日06:00禁止使用),并确保这些限制难以被青少年自行关闭或绕过。

6.1.2 提升内容审核标准与建立健全内容分级制度

  • 政策依据:研究发现,青少年接触不当内容(如暴力、色情、欺凌、自残、过度理想化的身体意象)是导致心理健康问题的重要因素。此外,积极内容可以促进心理健康,内容分级制度的缺失导致青少年难以有效规避有害内容。
  • 政策方向:
    1. 明确内容审核标准:监管机构应与行业专家、心理学家共同制定并定期更新青少年内容审核标准,明确界定哪些内容对青少年有害(如诱导成瘾、宣扬不健康生活方式、低俗媚俗、可能引发社会比较和身体焦虑的内容),并要求平台严格执行。
    2. 强制性内容分级制度:借鉴电影、游戏等行业的经验,强制推行短视频和社交媒体内容分级制度。平台应在每条内容上清晰标注适宜观看的年龄等级,并根据青少年的年龄限制其可访问的内容范围。
    3. 建立内容举报与快速响应机制:要求平台建立高效的用户举报通道,并对涉及青少年身心健康的有害内容举报设置优先处理机制,确保在短时间内进行审查和下架。
    4. 鼓励积极内容创作与推荐:政策应鼓励平台加大对教育、科学、文化、体育等积极健康内容的扶持力度,并通过算法优化,优先向青少年用户推荐此类内容。

6.1.3 算法透明化与用户福祉导向的算法优化

  • 政策依据:当前平台算法主要以用户停留时长和互动率为导向,可能导致“信息茧房”、过度个性化推荐有害内容以及加剧用户成瘾风险,从而影响注意力、睡眠和心理健康。现有研究揭示了算法对青少年身体意象、情绪等方面的潜在负面影响。
  • 政策方向:
    1. 强制算法透明度披露:要求平台披露其核心算法对青少年用户内容推荐、排序和分发的影响机制,接受第三方独立机构的审计和评估。
    2. 用户福祉优先原则:政策应明确规定,平台算法在向青少年用户推荐内容时,应将用户福祉置于商业利益之上。鼓励算法设计者在推荐系统中纳入“健康因子”,例如,优先推荐有助于学习、放松、启发创造力的内容,减少可能引起焦虑、沉迷或不健康比较的内容。
    3. 提供个性化“数字健康”工具:平台应被要求提供更多易于理解和使用的个性化数字健康工具,如可自定义的休息提醒、注意力集中模式、情绪管理工具等,帮助青少年更好地管理数字生活。
    4. 研究与创新激励:政府应设立专项基金,鼓励学术界和产业界合作,开展对数字媒体算法与青少年健康之间关系的深入研究,并推动开发以用户福祉为核心的创新算法技术。

6.1.4 严格执行数据隐私保护与青少年信息安全

  • 政策依据:青少年在数字环境中容易成为数据滥用和隐私侵犯的受害者。其个人数据可能被用于定向广告或不当的内容推荐,进一步加剧负面影响。
  • 政策方向:
    1. 最严格的隐私保护标准:制定并执行针对未成年人数据的最严格隐私保护法律法规,明确规定平台在收集、使用、存储和共享青少年个人信息方面的限制。
    2. 禁止定向广告:禁止基于未成年人个人数据进行定向广告投放,特别是针对涉及不健康产品或服务的广告。
    3. 简化隐私设置:要求平台提供易于理解和操作的隐私设置选项,确保青少年及其家长能够轻松控制个人信息的可见性和分享范围。

通过以上多方面的行业监管政策,旨在从制度层面构建一个更安全、更健康的数字环境,以有效保护青少年在短视频和社交媒体时代的注意力、睡眠和心理健康。

6.2 公共健康服务政策优化方向

短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年健康的影响已从个体和平台层面深入到公共卫生领域。因此,政府和公共卫生机构需要优化公共健康服务政策,以应对青少年数字媒体使用带来的健康挑战,特别是关注注意力、睡眠和心理健康问题。这包括明确相关健康问题的筛查、干预公共服务供给路径,并提出针对重点人群的健康支持方案。

6.2.1 明确青少年数字媒体使用相关健康问题的筛查机制

  1. 定期健康体检中纳入数字媒体使用评估:

    • 政策依据:青少年过度使用短视频和社交媒体与注意力分散、睡眠障碍、抑郁、焦虑等问题密切相关,而这些问题往往在常规体检中容易被忽视。早期识别和干预是预防问题恶化的关键。根据一项系统评价和荟萃分析,数字媒体使用与儿童和青少年健康及发展风险持续相关,特别是社交媒体使用与更高的抑郁、外化和内化行为、自伤念头、问题性互联网使用和物质使用相关,并与较低的学业成就、较差的自我认知和较少的积极发展相关联33。
    • 优化路径:在青少年年度健康体检中,应增加关于数字媒体使用习惯的标准化问卷评估。内容可包括日均使用时长、睡前使用情况、使用目的、对日常学习和生活的影响、是否存在使用成瘾倾向等。同时,评估其注意力集中度、睡眠质量和心理健康状况。
    • 筛查主体:由基层医疗机构、学校校医或专业健康管理师负责实施。
  2. 建立多渠道筛查预警系统:

    • 政策依据:青少年数字健康问题具有隐匿性和复杂性,单一的筛查机制可能无法全面覆盖。
    • 优化路径:
      • 学校心理健康筛查:将数字媒体使用风险纳入学校心理健康普查的范畴,定期对全体学生进行心理健康风险评估,特别是关注与数字媒体相关的焦虑、抑郁、社交回避等问题。
      • 家长教育与赋能:通过公共卫生宣传,提高家长对青少年数字媒体风险的认知,鼓励家长观察并报告孩子的异常数字媒体使用行为及伴随的健康问题。
      • 数字平台合作:鼓励数字平台与公共卫生机构合作,匿名分享用户行为数据,协助公共卫生部门识别可能存在过度使用风险的青少年群体,但需严格遵守数据隐私保护原则。

6.2.2 强化数字健康干预公共服务供给路径

  1. 提供免费或普惠的数字素养和媒介素养教育:

    • 政策依据:数字素养和媒介素养是青少年健康使用数字媒体的基础。数字化健康技术为促进健康提供了诸多益处,包括扩大健康信息和服务的可及性、降低推广成本、个性化健康建议以及实时“引导”人们选择更健康的生活方式98。然而,这也带来了隐私控制、数据使用、选择自由限制以及加剧社会不平等等挑战98。研究显示,老年人的数字健康素养研究尚处于初期阶段,亟需在评估工具和干预方法方面进行进一步发展99。针对不同国家和年龄组的数字健康素养水平存在显著差异,需要有针对性的教育计划100。
    • 优化路径:将数字素养和媒介素养教育纳入中小学必修课程,内容涵盖数字媒体的利弊、信息辨别、网络伦理、隐私保护、识别和应对网络欺凌、自我管理数字时间等。同时,开发针对家长的在线课程或线下讲座,帮助他们提升数字育儿能力。这些教育服务应由教育部门主导,联合公共图书馆、青少年宫等公共文化机构提供。
    • 资源整合:整合现有教育资源,开发高质量的数字素养教材和在线学习平台,确保教育内容的时效性和科学性。
  2. 建立健全多层次心理咨询和支持服务网络:

    • 政策依据:数字媒体使用导致的心理健康问题呈现多样性,需要多层次、个性化的心理支持。
    • 优化路径:
      • 学校心理咨询室标准化建设:确保每所学校配备专业的心理咨询师,提供面对面和线上心理咨询服务,并建立数字媒体相关心理问题的转介机制。
      • 青少年心理健康热线与在线平台:设立全国统一的青少年数字心理健康热线,并开发由专业人士运营的在线咨询平台,提供24小时匿名、免费的心理支持服务,特别关注那些因数字媒体使用而导致抑郁、焦虑、网络成瘾等问题的青少年。例如,E-Connect数字临床决策支持系统能够有效帮助缓刑官员识别有自杀风险的青少年并将其转介至行为健康服务101。
      • 社区心理健康服务中心:鼓励社区建立青少年心理健康服务中心,提供团体辅导、同伴支持、父母心理辅导等多元化服务。
  3. 开发和推广基于循证的干预工具和方案:

    • 政策依据:干预措施的有效性需要科学验证。例如,促进青少年糖尿病患者压力管理韧性(PRISM)干预试验显示,在12个月时,PRISM组的糖尿病困扰得到显著改善,自我管理行为也有所提高102。此外,青少年男性急诊患者对基于数字工具的性健康干预持开放态度,认为其是获取可靠和保密信息的来源103。
    • 优化路径:由国家卫健委牵头,组织专家开发针对青少年数字媒体问题性使用的标准化干预方案,包括认知行为疗法、家庭治疗、团体辅导等。同时,推广健康管理APP或小程序,提供睡眠辅助、注意力训练、情绪调节等数字化干预工具,并确保这些工具经过严格的临床验证。

6.2.3 提出针对重点群体的健康支持方案

  1. 针对注意力缺陷/多动障碍(ADHD)青少年:

    • 政策依据:数字媒体使用与儿童和青少年的多种健康和发展结果相关,包括社会情感、认知、身体和运动健康33。过度使用数字媒体可能对ADHD青少年的注意力问题产生负面影响。
    • 支持方案:开发专门针对ADHD青少年的数字素养教育和时间管理课程,强调个性化指导。提供定制化的数字工具,帮助他们管理屏幕时间、减少分心。同时,整合医疗资源,提供多学科合作的心理治疗和药物治疗。
  2. 针对存在心理健康脆弱性的青少年:

    • 政策依据:有抑郁、焦虑、社交焦虑等倾向的青少年,可能更容易受到数字媒体负面影响或形成问题性使用33。
    • 支持方案:加强对这一群体的心理筛查频率,提供更深入的心理评估和个性化心理干预。鼓励他们利用数字平台获取健康、积极的心理支持资源(如心理健康科普视频、在线支持小组),但同时要警惕潜在的负面内容接触。
  3. 针对农村及偏远地区青少年:

    • 政策依据:数字鸿沟可能导致这些地区的青少年在数字素养教育和健康服务获取方面存在劣势。数字技术发展迅速,但老年人的数字健康素养不足是一个紧迫的问题99。研究表明,在数字健康素养方面,高收入国家的老年人得分相对较高,而中等收入国家的老年人得分普遍较低,这与社会人口因素、电子设备相关因素、使用情况和社会支持等因素有关104。数字健康技术在减少医疗成本、增强医疗可及性和解决劳动力短缺方面具有潜力,但也可能加剧不平等,对部分人群产生不成比例的益处105。
    • 支持方案:通过远程教育和远程医疗模式,将数字健康教育和心理咨询服务延伸到农村和偏远地区。开发适合当地文化背景的数字健康宣传材料和工具。利用学校作为平台,开展数字素养培训和心理健康促进活动。

通过构建全面、多层次的公共健康服务体系,政策制定者可以更有效地应对短视频和社交媒体对青少年健康带来的挑战,确保所有青少年都能在数字时代健康成长。

6.3 多主体协同治理机制构建

短视频和社交媒体对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康的影响复杂而深远,单一主体的干预往往难以奏效。因此,构建一个由政府、平台、学校和家庭四方协同的青少年数字健康保护体系,明确各自的责任边界,是实现有效治理的关键。这种多主体协同治理的模式,旨在形成合力,从不同维度和层面共同促进青少年的数字福祉。

6.3.1 政府:宏观引导与规制保障
政府在多主体协同治理中扮演着宏观引导者、政策制定者和规制保障者的角色。

  • 责任边界:
    • 顶层设计与政策法规制定:制定并完善针对青少年数字媒体使用的法律法规、行业标准和政策指南,包括强制性的青少年模式、内容分级、数据隐私保护、算法透明度等方面的规定。例如,强制平台实施青少年模式,并加强其防破解技术。
    • 监管与执法:建立健全数字媒体行业的监管体系,对平台执行相关政策法规的情况进行常态化监督检查,对违规行为进行严厉处罚。确保内容审核标准得到有效落实,打击网络欺凌、有害信息传播等违法行为。
    • 公共服务与资源配置:加大对青少年数字健康领域的公共投入,支持数字素养教育、心理健康服务和科研创新。整合教育、卫生、文化等部门资源,推动跨部门合作,为青少年提供全面的数字健康支持。
    • 国际合作与交流:在数字健康治理方面加强国际合作与交流,学习借鉴国际先进经验,共同应对全球性数字挑战。

6.3.2 平台:技术赋能与社会责任
作为数字媒体的提供者,平台在青少年数字健康保护中承担着核心的社会责任,应通过技术创新和自我约束来保障用户福祉。

  • 责任边界:
    • 产品设计中的青少年保护:在产品设计初期即融入青少年保护理念,开发易用、高效、防破解的青少年模式和防沉迷系统。例如,优化算法以优先推荐积极、有益于青少年成长的内容,减少可能引起焦虑、沉迷或不健康比较的内容。
    • 严格的内容审核与管理:建立强大的内容审核团队和技术系统,对平台上的内容进行严格的分类、审查和过滤,尤其是针对青少年用户。对涉嫌有害、违法内容,应及时发现、处置。
    • 提升算法透明度与可解释性:公开部分算法逻辑,接受第三方监督,并允许用户对其推荐内容进行一定程度的自定义和干预,避免“信息茧房”的产生。
    • 提供数字健康工具:开发和完善内置的数字健康管理工具,如使用时长提醒、休息功能、眼部健康提醒、情绪管理工具等,并教育青少年有效使用。
    • 数据隐私与安全保障:严格遵守数据保护法律法规,采取最高标准保护青少年用户数据隐私,禁止对未成年人进行精准营销和个性化广告。
    • 主动参与行业治理:与政府、研究机构等合作,共同探索青少年数字健康治理的最佳实践,分享经验,共建行业规范。

6.3.3 学校:教育引导与校园环境营造
学校作为青少年学习和成长的主要场所,在培养青少年的数字素养和营造健康的数字环境方面具有不可替代的作用。

  • 责任边界:
    • 数字素养与媒介素养教育:将数字素养和媒介素养教育纳入常规课程体系,系统教授青少年如何安全、负责任、批判性地使用数字媒体,包括信息辨别、网络伦理、隐私保护、识别和应对网络欺凌等。
    • 心理健康教育与支持:加强校园心理健康教育,普及数字媒体对心理健康影响的知识。配备专业的心理咨询师,为受数字媒体负面影响的学生提供及时的心理辅导和转介服务。
    • 校园数字环境管理:制定合理的校园数字设备使用规定,如限制上课期间手机使用,引导学生利用课余时间进行有益的活动,促进面对面交流。
    • 家校合作桥梁:主动与家长沟通,分享数字健康知识,引导家长参与到亲子媒介使用约定的制定和执行中,形成家校教育合力。

6.3.4 家庭:榜样示范与情感支持
家庭是青少年成长最核心的环境,父母的榜样作用、教育方式和情感支持对青少年的数字媒体使用习惯和健康发展影响深远。

  • 责任边界:
    • 树立榜样:父母应首先以身作则,管理好自身的数字媒体使用习惯,避免过度沉迷,为孩子树立积极的榜样。
    • 亲子沟通与约定:与孩子建立开放、平等的沟通模式,共同制定家庭数字媒体使用规则,如使用时长、内容选择、睡前禁用等,并共同遵守。
    • 提供情感支持与陪伴:关注孩子在数字世界中的体验和感受,提供充足的情感支持,帮助孩子应对网络欺凌、社会比较等负面影响。多花时间陪伴孩子进行线下活动,丰富其现实生活体验。
    • 数字素养提升:父母应主动学习数字媒体知识,提升自身的数字素养,以便更好地理解孩子的数字生活,并提供有效的指导。
    • 关注子女身心健康:密切关注孩子在注意力、睡眠和心理健康方面的变化,及时发现问题并寻求专业帮助。

通过政府的宏观政策引导、平台的责任技术赋能、学校的教育引导和家庭的榜样支持,四方共同构建起一个协同治理的青少年数字健康保护网络,才能最大程度地发挥数字媒体的积极作用,同时有效规避其潜在风险,确保青少年在数字时代健康成长。

7. 主要结论与未来研究展望

7.1 核心研究结论汇总

本系统性综述对短视频和社交媒体使用对青少年注意力、睡眠及心理健康的影响进行了全面的梳理和分类评估,整合了相关性研究、因果研究和干预研究的证据。核心研究结论可总结如下:

7.1.1 相关性研究的共识性结论
相关性研究提供了大量证据,一致表明青少年短视频和社交媒体使用与负面的注意力、睡眠及心理健康结局之间存在显著关联:

  • 注意力方面:过度使用短视频和社交媒体与青少年注意力分散、持续注意力下降和冲动控制能力减弱呈正相关。特别是短视频这种快节奏、高刺激性的内容形式,被发现与较差的认知能力,尤其是注意力(r = -.38)和抑制控制(r = -.41)有中等程度的负相关 9。
  • 睡眠方面:社交媒体使用,特别是睡前使用,与青少年睡眠时长缩短、入睡延迟、睡眠质量下降以及日间疲惫感密切相关 10106107。蓝光暴露和社交媒体互动引起的情绪唤起是介导这种关联的关键机制。
  • 心理健康方面:问题性或过度使用社交媒体与青少年更高的焦虑、抑郁、压力水平、情绪不稳定和孤独感呈正相关 1049108109110111112。此外,社交媒体的频繁使用与青少年身体意象困扰存在显著关联 109113。

7.1.2 因果研究的证据及共识
因果研究通过更严谨的设计,部分澄清了使用行为与健康结局之间的因果方向:

  • 注意力方面:虽然因果方向仍存在争议(即注意力问题可能导致过度使用,反之亦然),但有初步证据表明,问题性数字媒体使用可能加剧ADHD症状,并损害青少年的注意力控制能力。短视频的成瘾性使用被发现通过影响注意力控制间接影响学业拖延。
  • 睡眠方面:纵向研究和干预研究提供了较强的因果证据,支持短视频和社交媒体使用(特别是睡前使用)导致青少年睡眠问题的结论。蓝光暴露抑制褪黑素分泌,以及内容刺激导致的情绪唤起,被确认为影响睡眠的因果机制。
  • 心理健康方面:一些纵向研究表明,社交媒体使用增加可能导致抑郁症状的增加,而非反向因果 11。此外,实验研究提供了有力的因果证据,证明身体不满和频繁的社交媒体比较会增加饮食失调的风险 113。这凸显了内容属性在心理健康因果效应中的关键作用。社交媒体对青少年社会认同有负面影响 114。

7.1.3 干预研究的效果评估
干预研究显示,个体、平台和家校层面的干预措施在一定程度上有助于减轻负面影响:

  • 个体层面:数字素养培训有助于提升批判性思维和内容识别能力,但在改善身体意象等方面效果温和并存在性别差异。自主时间管理和平台使用提醒功能能提高青少年的自我管理意识,但依从性是主要挑战。
  • 平台层面:青少年模式、防沉迷机制和内容审核能有效限制使用时长和有害内容暴露,但普遍存在易破解、覆盖不足、审核难度大和商业利益冲突等局限性。算法优化在推荐积极内容和减少负面内容方面有潜力,但透明度不足。
  • 家校层面:亲子媒介使用约定能促进家庭沟通和建立界限,但执行困难。学校媒介素养课程能提升批判性思维和媒体使用行为,对减少攻击性有益。校园使用管控能减少课堂干扰和网络欺凌,但面临执行难度和学生抵触。

71.4 现有证据的不足
尽管取得了显著进展,现有研究仍存在以下不足:

  • 因果机制不明确:尽管因果研究有所突破,但对于短视频和社交媒体如何通过具体的认知、情感、生理和神经生物学机制影响注意力、睡眠和心理健康,仍缺乏深入的探索。尤其是反向因果和复杂双向关系的澄清仍面临挑战。
  • 测量工具的局限性:多数研究仍依赖自我报告,可能存在回忆偏差和主观性。对数字媒体使用的衡量方式(如时长、频率、内容、互动模式)缺乏标准化和精细化,难以捕捉其复杂性。
  • 长期效应证据稀缺:大部分研究关注短期或中期效应,对数字媒体长期使用对青少年健康发展的累积效应和轨迹缺乏足够证据。
  • 个体差异和情境因素考虑不足:不同年龄、性别、社会经济背景、心理脆弱性以及文化背景的青少年,对数字媒体的反应可能存在显著差异,但现有研究对这些调节作用的考察仍不充分。
  • 干预研究证据等级有待提高:许多干预研究缺乏高质量的随机对照试验,难以提供强有力的因果证据来支持干预措施的有效性。

7.2 未来研究方向展望

鉴于短视频和社交媒体对青少年注意力、睡眠和心理健康影响的复杂性和重要性,未来的研究应在以下几个关键方向上深化和拓展,以期提供更具洞察力的理论理解和更有效的实践指导:

7.2.1 加强因果机制的澄清
现有研究虽已初步识别出一些因果关联,但深层次的因果机制仍有待阐明。

  • 神经生物学机制:未来的研究应结合先进的神经影像学技术(如fMRI、EEG)和生物指标(如褪黑素水平、皮质醇),探究短视频和社交媒体使用如何影响青少年的大脑结构和功能(特别是与注意力控制、情绪调节和奖励系统相关的区域),以及对生理节律和内分泌系统的影响。例如,短视频的快速切换和高刺激性内容如何改变大脑的奖励敏感性,进而影响持续注意力和冲动控制。
  • 心理学机制:需要更精细地识别和验证介导数字媒体使用与健康结局之间的心理过程。例如,通过生态瞬时评估(Ecological Momentary Assessment, EMA)方法,实时捕捉社交媒体使用情境、情绪变化、社会比较、网络欺凌经历等微观过程,以揭示其对青少年心理健康影响的动态机制。研究可以更深入地探讨“害怕错过”(FoMO)、社会比较、自我呈现、寻求认同等心理因素在不同使用情境下的作用。
  • 双向因果关系与复杂模型:未来的纵向研究应采用更复杂的统计模型(如交叉滞后模型、潜变量增长模型)和因果推断方法(如孟德尔随机化、准实验设计),以更准确地 disentangle 短视频/社交媒体使用与健康结局之间的双向因果关系,并识别潜在的共同混杂因素。

7.2.2 优化干预措施的设计与评估
现有干预措施的效果和依从性仍存在局限性,未来需要开发和评估更有效、可推广且个性化的干预策略。

  • 个性化与自适应干预:结合机器学习和人工智能技术,开发能够根据青少年个体特征(如年龄、性别、人格特质、数字素养水平、心理脆弱性)和实时使用数据进行个性化调整的数字干预工具。例如,提供定制化的数字素养课程、屏幕时间管理建议或情绪调节练习。
  • 多模式与多层次干预:将个体层面(如数字素养培训、自我管理)、平台层面(如算法优化、智能提醒)和家校层面(如亲子约定、学校课程)的干预措施有机结合,形成协同效应。例如,平台通过智能提醒鼓励青少年参与线下活动,学校教授数字素养知识,家庭则提供支持性环境。
  • 强调正向使用与技能培养:干预措施不应仅仅聚焦于减少负面影响,更应引导青少年积极利用数字媒体进行学习、创造、社交和自我成长。例如,教授青少年如何利用短视频进行知识分享、技能学习或创意表达,从而将注意力从被动消费转向主动生产。
  • 严格的干预效果评估:未来的干预研究应优先采用随机对照试验(RCTs)设计,并结合客观测量指标(如腕动仪记录睡眠、认知测试评估注意力),以提供更高质量的证据来支持干预措施的有效性。

7.2.3 开展长期效应追踪研究
目前对短视频和社交媒体使用的长期累积效应研究仍然不足。

  • 跨越发展阶段的追踪:开展跨越青少年到成年早期甚至更长期的队列研究,系统评估数字媒体使用习惯对个体整个生命周期中注意力、睡眠、心理健康乃至职业发展、社会关系等方面的长期影响。
  • 关键敏感期的识别:识别青少年发展中对数字媒体影响更敏感的关键时期,为在这些时期提供有针对性的预防和干预措施提供依据。

7.2.4 提升测量工具的精细化与标准化
现有研究在数字媒体使用和健康结局的测量方面存在多样性和局限性。

  • 客观测量与多模态数据整合:开发和推广更客观、精细的数字媒体使用测量方法(如屏幕时间跟踪软件、平台API数据),并将其与生理指标、认知测试、自我报告等多模态数据相结合,以更全面地捕捉使用行为的复杂性和对健康结局的影响。
  • 标准化量表的开发:针对不同文化背景和青少年发展阶段,开发和验证一套标准化的数字媒体使用模式、数字素养水平以及相关健康结局的测量工具,以提高研究结果的可比性和泛化性。

7.2.5 关注个体差异和文化背景

  • 脆弱性与保护性因素:深入研究不同个体特征(如人格特质、ADHD易感性、心理弹性)、家庭环境、同伴关系等脆弱性与保护性因素如何调节数字媒体使用对健康结局的影响。例如,对于已有心理健康问题的青少年,其数字媒体使用行为和所受影响可能与健康青少年存在显著差异。
  • 文化比较研究:开展跨文化研究,探究不同社会文化背景下,短视频和社交媒体使用模式、平台功能以及社会规范如何影响青少年的注意力、睡眠和心理健康,从而为制定具有文化适应性的政策和干预措施提供依据。

通过上述重点方向的持续努力,未来的研究将能够为我们提供更全面、更深入的理解,关于短视频和社交媒体在青少年成长中的复杂角色,并为构建一个更健康、更积极的数字生态系统提供坚实的科学基础。

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参考文献

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At the time of writing, about 4.59 billion people use social media with many adolescents using their social media accounts across a myriad of applications and platforms. According to recent statistics, in 2022 individuals spent an average of 151 minutes on social media each day, illustrating the global relevance of social media (Dixon, 2022a,b). One of the pressing questions, internationally, is whether social media use is harmful and/or addictive. This question is of particular importance because many teenagers - and younger adolescents - spend considerable time on these platforms, which have increasingly become an integral part of their lives. Moreover, considering lifespan development, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to specific features and advertisements shown to them on social media platforms. Growing prevalence of poor mental health in young people has led to recent recommendations in the United States to routinely screen for anxiety in 8-18 year olds, and for depression and suicide risk for adolescents between 12-18 years of age (US Preventive Services Task Force et al., 2022 a,b) - the conditions often accompanying problematic social media use. The present work not only provides insights into the current state of the literature but provides also recommendations.

2The impact of the social media industry as a commercial determinant of health on the digital food environment for children and adolescents: a scoping reviewOpenAlex

Jesse Lafontaine, Isabel Hanson, C. Wild
INTRODUCTION: There is emerging evidence that the social media industry contributes to adverse health outcomes by shaping the digital food environment for children and adolescents (aged 0-18). The aim of this scoping review was to determine the extent of research on how the social media industry, including the broader online landscape, influences the digital food environment and affects child and adolescent health. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted in the electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO, along with forward and reverse citation searching for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2000 and May 2023. A qualitative descriptive synthesis of the included articles was performed to identify trends, themes and research gaps in the current literature. RESULTS: The review identified 36 articles for inclusion. Most research was conducted in high-income countries and publications have increased since 2021. The review found most children and adolescents are exposed to food advertisements on social media and most advertised food is ultra-processed. Heightened by a lack of social media advertising awareness, digital food marketing influences children and youth's consumption and food behaviour. Voluntary children's food marketing regulations are ineffective for the online environment. Countering unhealthy food marketing will require media literacy and government regulation. CONCLUSION: The social media industry may act as a commercial determinant of health to shape the digital food environment as an extension of the obesogenic environment. Further research should explore approaches to monitor unhealthy food marketing practices and understand social media's role in the digital food environment.

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Social media influencers (SMIs) have become an important source of health information for adolescents. However, the lack of expertise and commercial interests of SMIs pose challenges for adolescent health. To gain a better understanding of these challenges, this scoping review aimed to synthesize existing research on the role of SMIs in adolescent health. Using the PRISMA-ScR approach, we conducted a comprehensive search of eight databases and screened articles based on predefined criteria. The final sample included 51 articles published between 2012 and 2022. Results revealed inconsistent definitions and classifications of SMIs. The most common topics included appearance, nutrition, and substance use, while mental and sexual health topics were underrepresented. The ability of SMIs to establish trustworthy relationships with their followers was highlighted in the reviewed studies, shedding light on potential benefits and challenges for adolescent health. However, most studies focused on the negative roles of SMIs, such as the promotion of unrealistic body images, unhealthy diets, substance use, and inaccurate diagnosis and treatment advice. In addition, inappropriate advertising of unhealthy products (e.g., junk food, tobacco products and alcohol) was identified as a major challenge. The reviewed studies identified stricter regulation and improved social media and health literacy as important avenues for policy action. Less attention was given to the potential positive impact of SMIs and how to effectively include them in health promotion campaigns. In addition, the majority of studies were conducted in the Global North and relied on quantitative approaches, resulting in a lack of representation of minority populations and male adolescents.

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Social media applications are increasingly prominent among youth. This systematic review provides a comprehensive assessment of the literature on the relationship between active social media use, sleep quality, and common mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and psychological distress) among youth. MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE and Scopus were searched for observational studies investigating this relationship among youth (aged 16-25). Thirty-six cross-sectional studies and six prospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Among cross-sectional studies, significant associations between excessive social media use with poor mental health outcomes (n = 33), poor sleep quality (n = 24), and significant associations between poor sleep quality and negative mental health (n = 16) were found. In longitudinal studies, frequent social media use was a risk factor for both poor mental health (n = 6) and poor sleep outcomes (n = 5). Some studies showed sleep quality mediating the relationship between social media use and negative mental health outcomes in youth. Overall, included evidence links excessive social media use to poor sleep quality and negative mental health in youth. Given the public health implications of sleep problems, excessive social media use warrants further investigation to clarify the directionality and strength of their associations with poor sleep quality and negative mental health outcomes.

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The resurgence of short-form videos (SFVs), popularized by TikTok and Douyin, has transformed social media platforms, with features like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts fostering their widespread adoption. Although initially geared toward entertainment, SFVs are increasingly used in education, political campaigns, advertising, and consumerism, yet their design, characterized by endless scrolling interfaces, has raised concerns about addiction and negative health implications. Given the recent surge of studies on SFV apps, a comprehensive synthesis is needed to clarify how SFV use relates to different health indicators. This systematic review and meta-analytic investigation comprised data from 98,299 participants across 71 studies. Increased SFV use was associated with poorer cognition (moderate mean effect size, r = -.34), with attention (r = -.38) and inhibitory control (r = -.41) yielding the strongest associations. Similarly, increased SFV use was associated with poorer mental health (weak mean effect size, r = -.21), with stress (r = -.34) and anxiety (r = -.33) showing the strongest associations. These findings were consistent across youth and adult samples and across different SFV platforms. Relatively few studies examined cognitive domains beyond attention and inhibitory control (e.g., memory, reasoning), highlighting critical directions for future research. Interestingly, SFV use was not associated with body image or self-esteem, which may reflect the diverse content and creators featured on these platforms. Further research is therefore needed to clarify how different types of content exposure may shape these associations. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of understanding the broader health implications of SFV use, given its pervasive role in daily life and potential to impact health, behavior, and well-being. By synthesizing current evidence, this study provides a critical foundation for future research to explore understudied health domains (e.g., cognitive health, physical health) and offers insights to guide public discourse and the development of research-informed approaches for promoting more balanced engagement with SFVs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

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BACKGROUND: The literature investigating the relationship between social media use, mental health, and sleep has produced inconsistent findings. Younger people spend more time on social media than other age groups, and are more likely to be impacted by social media use. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to synthesise the evidence on the associations between social media use, mental health, and sleep of young individuals. METHODS: Electronic databases PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO were searched using an established methodology and pre-determined search terms for studies that reported the association between social media use, mental health, and sleep. RESULTS: The search yielded 6108 articles, of which 182 (n = 1,169,396) were eligible for the systematic review, and 98 (n = 102,683) could be included in the meta-analyses. The systematic review identified a high level of heterogeneity in the study results. Meta-analyses found small but significant positive associations between social media use, depression, and anxiety. In addition, problematic social media use was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep problems, and negatively associated with wellbeing. Geographical location, anxiety measure type, study design, age, and gender were identified as potential moderators. LIMITATIONS: Associations for specific social media platforms as well as some moderator effects were not examined due to an insufficient number of studies. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important evidence of an association between social media use/ problematic social media use, mental health, and sleep. The findings support future longitudinal research to identify the directions and underlying mechanisms of the inter-relationship between these variables.

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PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review recent literature based on Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data of over 11 000 participants about screen time and social media use in early adolescence, including epidemiology, trends, and associations with mental and physical health outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: Time spent on screens and social media has risen among early adolescents (aged 9-15 years), and these increasing trends have been more pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic. Both cross-sectional and 1-2-year follow-up data show that higher screen use, particularly social media, video games, video chat, videos, and texting, is associated with a range of mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, and disruptive behavior disorders, although effect sizes vary. Screen time is also associated with sleep problems and various cardiometabolic risk factors. Parents' own screen use and restriction of bedroom and mealtime screen use are associated with lower early adolescent screen time and problematic use. SUMMARY: Analyses of current ABCD Study data reveal increasing use of screens and social media across early adolescence, with sociodemographic disparities in screen use as well as numerous associations between screens and adverse mental and physical health effects.

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Ortal Slobodin, Karen Frankel Heffler, Michael Davidovitch
J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019 May;40(4):303-311. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000654.
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest that psychiatric disorders are associated with problematic use of screen media. This article systematically reviews the literature on the associations between screen media and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The review uses the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. METHOD: Electronic databases were searched from inception to April 2018, using the term "ASD/autism" along with one of the following terms: "screen time"/"media"/"computer"/"phone"/"television"/"video game." RESULTS: A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies support the view that children and adolescents with ASD are exposed to more screen time than their typically developing peers or other clinical groups and that the exposure starts at a younger age. The content and context of screen use (e.g., with parents vs alone) may affect the behaviors associated with media exposure. Correlates and long-term consequences of early screen exposure (before the age of 3 years) remain largely unexamined. CONCLUSION: The current review provides important information about how ASD is associated with screen use and exposure. Future longitudinal research should examine the impact of early screen exposure on child development while accounting for potential moderating environmental factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, parent-child relationship). This will help determine whether-and if so, how much-exposure is detrimental and allow appropriate recommendations and interventions related to screen time among children with ASD.

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Sowdhamini S Wallace, Gal Barak, Grace Truong, et al.
Hosp Pediatr. 2022 Aug 1;12(8):745-750. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2022-006690.
The quality of evidence from medical research is partially deemed by the hierarchy of study designs. On the lowest level, the hierarchy of study designs begins with animal and translational studies and expert opinion, and then ascends to descriptive case reports or case series, followed by analytic observational designs such as cohort studies, then randomized controlled trials, and finally systematic reviews and meta-analyses as the highest quality evidence. This hierarchy of evidence in the medical literature is a foundational concept for pediatric hospitalists, given its relevance to key steps of evidence-based practice, including efficient literature searches and prioritization of the highest-quality designs for critical appraisal, to address clinical questions. Consideration of the hierarchy of evidence can also aid researchers in designing new studies by helping them determine the next level of evidence needed to improve upon the quality of currently available evidence. Although the concept of the hierarchy of evidence should be taken into consideration for clinical and research purposes, it is important to put this into context of individual study limitations through meticulous critical appraisal of individual articles.

14Bias and causal associations in observational research.PubMed

David A Grimes, Kenneth F Schulz
Lancet. 2002 Jan 19;359(9302):248-52. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)07451-2.
Readers of medical literature need to consider two types of validity, internal and external. Internal validity means that the study measured what it set out to; external validity is the ability to generalise from the study to the reader's patients. With respect to internal validity, selection bias, information bias, and confounding are present to some degree in all observational research. Selection bias stems from an absence of comparability between groups being studied. Information bias results from incorrect determination of exposure, outcome, or both. The effect of information bias depends on its type. If information is gathered differently for one group than for another, bias results. By contrast, non-differential misclassification tends to obscure real differences. Confounding is a mixing or blurring of effects: a researcher attempts to relate an exposure to an outcome but actually measures the effect of a third factor (the confounding variable). Confounding can be controlled in several ways: restriction, matching, stratification, and more sophisticated multivariate techniques. If a reader cannot explain away study results on the basis of selection, information, or confounding bias, then chance might be another explanation. Chance should be examined last, however, since these biases can account for highly significant, though bogus results. Differentiation between spurious, indirect, and causal associations can be difficult. Criteria such as temporal sequence, strength and consistency of an association, and evidence of a dose-response effect lend support to a causal link.

15Quantitative Research Designs, Hierarchy of Evidence and Validity.PubMed

Paul Slater, Felicity Hasson
J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2025 Jun;32(3):656-660. doi: 10.1111/jpm.13135. Epub 2024 Dec 2.
This paper provides a summary of the main quantitative research designs. Quantitative research designs occur in a hierarchy of evidence, ranging from descriptive research designs such as cross-sectional studies, and cohort designs, to more carefully constructed experimental designs like randomised control trials (RCT's). The quality of a study's findings is determined by factors affecting its internal validity and its application to other settings is gauged by its external validity.

16Estimating causal effects from epidemiological data.PubMed

Miguel A Hernán, James M Robins
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006 Jul;60(7):578-86. doi: 10.1136/jech.2004.029496.
In ideal randomised experiments, association is causation: association measures can be interpreted as effect measures because randomisation ensures that the exposed and the unexposed are exchangeable. On the other hand, in observational studies, association is not generally causation: association measures cannot be interpreted as effect measures because the exposed and the unexposed are not generally exchangeable. However, observational research is often the only alternative for causal inference. This article reviews a condition that permits the estimation of causal effects from observational data, and two methods -- standardisation and inverse probability weighting -- to estimate population causal effects under that condition. For simplicity, the main description is restricted to dichotomous variables and assumes that no random error attributable to sampling variability exists. The appendix provides a generalisation of inverse probability weighting.

17Causal associations of brain structure with bone mineral density: a large-scale genetic correlation study.PubMed

Bin Guo, Chao Wang, Yong Zhu, et al.
Bone Res. 2023 Jul 20;11(1):37. doi: 10.1038/s41413-023-00270-z.
In this study, we aimed to investigate the causal associations of brain structure with bone mineral density (BMD). Based on the genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of 1 325 brain imaging-derived phenotypes (BIDPs) of brain structure from the UK Biobank and GWAS summary datasets of 5 BMD locations, including the total body, femoral neck, lumbar spine, forearm, and heel from the GEFOS Consortium, linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was conducted to determine the genetic correlations, and Mendelian randomization (MR) was then performed to explore the causal relationship between the BIDPs and BMD. Several sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the strength and stability of the present MR outcomes. To increase confidence in our findings, we also performed confirmatory MR between BIDPs and osteoporosis. LDSC revealed that 1.93% of BIDPs, with a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.01, were genetically correlated with BMD. Additionally, we observed that 1.31% of BIDPs exhibited a significant causal relationship with BMD (FDR < 0.01) through MR. Both the LDSC and MR results demonstrated that the BIDPs "Volume of normalized brain," "Volume of gray matter in Left Inferior Frontal Gyrus, pars opercularis," "Volume of Estimated Total Intra Cranial" and "Volume-ratio of brain segmentation/estimated total intracranial" had strong associations with BMD. Interestingly, our results showed that more left BIDPs were causally associated with BMD, especially within and around the left frontal region. In conclusion, a part of the brain structure causally influences BMD, which may provide important perspectives for the prevention of osteoporosis and offer valuable insights for further research on the brain-bone axis.

18Causal Inference in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Research.PubMed

Suzanne H Gage, Marcus R Munafò, George Davey Smith
Annu Rev Psychol. 2016;67:567-85. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-122414-033352. Epub 2015 Oct 6.
Studies of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) often rely on prospective observational data, from which associations between developmental exposures and outcomes in later life can be identified. Typically, conventional statistical methods are used in an attempt to mitigate problems inherent in observational data, such as confounding and reverse causality, but these have serious limitations. In this review, we discuss a variety of methods that are increasingly being used in observational epidemiological studies to help strengthen causal inference. These methods include negative controls, cross-contextual designs, instrumental variables (including Mendelian randomization), family-based studies, and natural experiments. Applications within the DOHaD framework, and in relation to behavioral, psychiatric, and psychological domains, are considered, and the considerable potential for expanding the use of these methods is outlined.

19Identifying effective intervention strategies to reduce children's screen time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PubMed

Alexis Jones, Bridget Armstrong, R Glenn Weaver, et al.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Sep 16;18(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01189-6.
BACKGROUND: Excessive screen time ([Formula: see text] 2 h per day) is associated with childhood overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, increased sedentary time, unfavorable dietary behaviors, and disrupted sleep. Previous reviews suggest intervening on screen time is associated with reductions in screen time and improvements in other obesogenic behaviors. However, it is unclear what study characteristics and behavior change techniques are potential mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of behavioral interventions. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify the behavior change techniques and study characteristics associated with effectiveness in behavioral interventions to reduce children's (0-18 years) screen time. METHODS: A literature search of four databases (Ebscohost, Web of Science, EMBASE, and PubMed) was executed between January and February 2020 and updated during July 2021. Behavioral interventions targeting reductions in children's (0-18 years) screen time were included. Information on study characteristics (e.g., sample size, duration) and behavior change techniques (e.g., information, goal-setting) were extracted. Data on randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding was extracted and used to assess risk of bias. Meta-regressions were used to explore whether intervention effectiveness was associated with the presence of behavior change techniques and study characteristics. RESULTS: The search identified 15,529 articles, of which 10,714 were screened for relevancy and 680 were retained for full-text screening. Of these, 204 studies provided quantitative data in the meta-analysis. The overall summary of random effects showed a small, beneficial impact of screen time interventions compared to controls (SDM = 0.116, 95CI 0.08 to 0.15). Inclusion of the Goals, Feedback, and Planning behavioral techniques were associated with a positive impact on intervention effectiveness (SDM = 0.145, 95CI 0.11 to 0.18). Interventions with smaller sample sizes (n < 95) delivered over short durations (< 52 weeks) were associated with larger effects compared to studies with larger sample sizes delivered over longer durations. In the presence of the Goals, Feedback, and Planning behavioral techniques, intervention effectiveness diminished as sample size increased. CONCLUSIONS: Both intervention content and context are important to consider when designing interventions to reduce children's screen time. As interventions are scaled, determining the active ingredients to optimize interventions along the translational continuum will be crucial to maximize reductions in children's screen time.

20Systematic reviews of the literature: an introduction to current methods.PubMed

Romina Brignardello-Petersen, Nancy Santesso, Gordon H Guyatt
Am J Epidemiol. 2025 Feb 5;194(2):536-542. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwae232.
Systematic reviews are a type of evidence synthesis in which authors develop explicit eligibility criteria, collect all the available studies that meet these criteria, and summarize results using reproducible methods that minimize biases and errors. Systematic reviews serve different purposes and use a different methodology than other types of evidence synthesis such as narrative reviews, scoping reviews, and overviews of reviews. Systematic reviews can address questions regarding effects of interventions or exposures, diagnostic properties of tests, and prevalence or prognosis of diseases. All rigorous systematic reviews have common processes that include (1) determining the question and eligibility criteria, including a priori specification of subgroup hypotheses, (2) searching for evidence and selecting studies, (3) abstracting data and assessing risk of bias of the included studies, (4) summarizing the data for each outcome of interest, whenever possible using meta-analyses, and (5) assessing the certainty of the evidence and drawing conclusions. There are several tools that can guide and facilitate the systematic review process, but methodological and content expertise are always necessary.

21Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2023 Update on Clinical Guidelines for Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Réseau canadien pour les traitements de l'humeur et de l'anxiété (CANMAT) 2023 : Mise à jour des lignes directrices cliniques pour la prise en charge du trouble dépressif majeur chez les adultes.PubMed

Raymond W Lam, Sidney H Kennedy, Camelia Adams, et al.
Can J Psychiatry. 2024 Sep;69(9):641-687. doi: 10.1177/07067437241245384. Epub 2024 May 6.
BACKGROUND: The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) last published clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 2016. Owing to advances in the field, an update was needed to incorporate new evidence and provide new and revised recommendations for the assessment and management of MDD in adults. METHODS: CANMAT convened a guidelines editorial group comprised of academic clinicians and patient partners. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses published since the 2016 guidelines. Recommendations were organized by lines of treatment, which were informed by CANMAT-defined levels of evidence and supplemented by clinical support (consisting of expert consensus on safety, tolerability, and feasibility). Drafts were revised based on review by patient partners, expert peer review, and a defined expert consensus process. RESULTS: The updated guidelines comprise eight primary topics, in a question-and-answer format, that map a patient care journey from assessment to selection of evidence-based treatments, prevention of recurrence, and strategies for inadequate response. The guidelines adopt a personalized care approach that emphasizes shared decision-making that reflects the values, preferences, and treatment history of the patient with MDD. Tables provide new and updated recommendations for psychological, pharmacological, lifestyle, complementary and alternative medicine, digital health, and neuromodulation treatments. Caveats and limitations of the evidence are highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: The CANMAT 2023 updated guidelines provide evidence-informed recommendations for the management of MDD, in a clinician-friendly format. These updated guidelines emphasize a collaborative, personalized, and systematic management approach that will help optimize outcomes for adults with MDD.

22Clinical remission attainment, definitions, and correlates among patients with severe asthma treated with biologics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PubMed

Amy Shackleford, Liam G Heaney, Charlene Redmond, et al.
Lancet Respir Med. 2025 Jan;13(1):23-34. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(24)00293-5. Epub 2024 Nov 14.
BACKGROUND: Clinical remission has emerged as an important treatment goal in severe asthma; however, studies have reported variable attainment due to differences in study populations, definitions, and methods. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical remission attainment, definitions, and correlates among patients with severe asthma who have been treated with biologics. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Web of Science, Embase, and MEDLINE, using the keywords "asthma" and "remission", for studies published between database inception and June 13, 2024, that reported clinical remission among patients with severe asthma treated with biologics. Studies were eligible for inclusion in both the systematic review and meta-analysis if they were published in English language peer-reviewed journals and reported rates of clinical remission for patients treated with biologics for severe asthma. There were no limitations by study design. Two reviewers independently screened identified papers (AS and CR), with disagreements resolved through consensus or referral to a third reviewer (JB). Study-level data on study characteristics, clinical remission definitions, clinical remission attainment, and the potential correlates of clinical remission were extracted independently by two reviewers (AS and CR) using Covidence. We defined a three-component definition of clinical remission, which included use of maintenance oral corticosteroids, exacerbations, and asthma symptom burden, and a four-component definition, which additionally included lung function. We meta-analysed the rate of attainment of clinical remission and assessed the correlates of clinical remission using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I statistic. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42024507233. FINDINGS: Our search identified 3014 potentially eligible studies, of which 1812 were screened. 25 studies were included, which reported 28 analyses of clinical remission attainment. 68 definitions of clinical remission were identified, of which 48 were unique. Little consensus was found between studies in terms of the clinical remission definition, particularly for symptoms and lung function. Eight analyses used the three-component definition of clinical remission and 25 used the four-component definition. The pooled proportion of patients who attained clinical remission was 38% (95% CI 29-47; I=93%) for the three-component definition and 30% (27-34; I=83%) for the four-component definition. Several pulmonary factors were associated with lower clinical remission rates, including worse FEV (odds ratio 0·09 [95% CI 0·01-0·92]; I=87%), worse asthma symptoms (0·23 [0·17-0·33]; I=0%), longer asthma duration (0·49 [0·32-0·76]; I=22%), and use of maintenance oral corticosteroids (0·57 [0·40-0·79]; I=49%). The presence of comorbidities, in particular depression (0·38 [0·23-0·61]; I=6%) and obesity (0·41 [0·31-0·54]; I=0%), were important non-pulmonary barriers to clinical remission. INTERPRETATION: Clinical remission is an achievable goal for a minority of patients with severe asthma treated with biologics. Definitions of clinical remission varied substantially between studies, and materially affected attainment, suggesting an urgent need for further consensus-driven definitions. Longer disease duration, higher asthma severity, and the presence of comorbidities were identified as important barriers to clinical remission, suggesting that earlier intervention with effective treatments and a broader treatable traits approach might improve outcomes. FUNDING: Health Data Research UK, Inflammation and Immunity driver project.

23Association between the reproductive health of young women and cardiovascular disease in later life: umbrella review.PubMed

Kelvin Okoth, Joht Singh Chandan, Tom Marshall, et al.
BMJ. 2020 Oct 7;371:m3502. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m3502.
OBJECTIVE: To consolidate evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the association between reproductive factors in women of reproductive age and their subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: Umbrella review. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for systematic reviews and meta-analyses from inception until 31 August 2019. REVIEW METHODS: Two independent reviewers undertook screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. The population was women of reproductive age. Exposures were fertility related factors and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Outcome was cardiovascular diseases in women, including ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke. RESULTS: 32 reviews were included, evaluating multiple risk factors over an average follow-up period of 7-10 years. All except three reviews were of moderate quality. A narrative evidence synthesis with forest plots and tabular presentations was performed. Associations for composite cardiovascular disease were: twofold for pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, and preterm birth; 1.5-1.9-fold for gestational hypertension, placental abruption, gestational diabetes, and premature ovarian insufficiency; and less than 1.5-fold for early menarche, polycystic ovary syndrome, ever parity, and early menopause. A longer length of breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The associations for ischaemic heart disease were twofold or greater for pre-eclampsia, recurrent pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth; 1.5-1.9-fold for current use of combined oral contraceptives (oestrogen and progesterone), recurrent miscarriage, premature ovarian insufficiency, and early menopause; and less than 1.5-fold for miscarriage, polycystic ovary syndrome, and menopausal symptoms. For stroke outcomes, the associations were twofold or more for current use of any oral contraceptive (combined oral contraceptives or progesterone only pill), pre-eclampsia, and recurrent pre-eclampsia; 1.5-1.9-fold for current use of combined oral contraceptives, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth; and less than 1.5-fold for polycystic ovary syndrome. The association for heart failure was fourfold for pre-eclampsia. No association was found between cardiovascular disease outcomes and current use of progesterone only contraceptives, use of non-oral hormonal contraceptive agents, or fertility treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From menarche to menopause, reproductive factors were associated with cardiovascular disease in women. In this review, presenting absolute numbers on the scale of the problem was not feasible; however, if these associations are causal, they could account for a large proportion of unexplained risk of cardiovascular disease in women, and the risk might be modifiable. Identifying reproductive risk factors at an early stage in the life of women might facilitate the initiation of strategies to modify potential risks. Policy makers should consider incorporating reproductive risk factors as part of the assessment of cardiovascular risk in clinical guidelines. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019120076.

24A Systematic review of AAC interventions using speech generating devices for autistic preschoolers.PubMed

Michelle C S Therrien, Kelly Whalon, Débora Nunes, et al.
Augment Altern Commun. 2025 Jun;41(2):114-128. doi: 10.1080/07434618.2025.2479768. Epub 2025 Mar 31.
Many autistic children experience communication challenges. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can function as a primary or supportive mode of communication, and interventions incorporating AAC have a positive impact on the communication skills of autistic children. This systematic review investigated intervention studies using speech generating devices to enhance the expressive language of autistic preschoolers. Specifically, research questions addressed the (a) expressive communication skills and functions; (b) instructional strategies; (c) impact of interventions; and (d) ecological validity of the included studies. After an extensive search process, twenty studies from 1998 to 2023 met the inclusion criteria. Study characteristics were extracted, social and ecological validity were evaluated, and results were described using effect sizes and visual analysis. The majority targeted requesting (=14) and the remaining addressed communication acts across diverse functions (=6). Eleven of the studies demonstrated moderate to strong effects. Most interventions were multicomponent, including a variety of strategies, with prompting being the most common. Fewer than half of the studies met the full criteria for ecological validity, and only seven measured social validity. Implications for the field are provided including a call to action for researchers to evaluate interventions to support communication across diverse functions.

25Association between screen time and developmental and behavioral problems among children in the United States: evidence from 2018 to 2020 NSCH.PubMed

Guangbo Qu, Wenjing Hu, Jia Meng, et al.
J Psychiatr Res. 2023 May;161:140-149. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.03.014. Epub 2023 Mar 8.
Excessive digital media use has become the common phenomenon among children's lifestyle, and its influences on the plausible accompanying psychological and behavioral problems are gradually investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between screen time and developmental and behavioral problems of children in the United States (US). A secondary analysis based on the data from the 2018 to 2020 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) was conducted. Seven types of developmental and behavioral problems and screen time on weekdays of children were collected through parents/caregivers' recall. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine the associations. Overall, 101,350 children aged between 0 and 17 years old were included in this study and 70.3% of preschoolers aged 0-5 years old and 80.2% of children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old had excessive screen time. Excessive screen time was positively associated with behavioral and conduct problem, developmental delay, speech disorder, learning disability, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and there were significant dose-response relationships. The association between excessive screen time and developmental and behavioral problems was stronger among preschoolers than among children and adolescents. Boys with excessive screen time showed high odds of most types of developmental and behavioral problems. It can be concluded that children with excessive screen time are at high odds of developmental and behavioral problems, especially for preschoolers and boys. Early intervention of digital media use is urgent and essential for children in the US.

26Electronic Media Use and Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Greek Adolescents.PubMed

George Nodaras, Kalliopi Mavrea, Vasiliki Efthymiou, et al.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:253-261. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_26.
Electronic media such as mobile phones, social media, computers, televisions, and video games are dominant in adolescents' lives. There is a growing concern that rising rates of electronic media use may be related to behavioral and emotional problems. The aim of the present study was to examine associations of adolescents' electronic media use with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Study participants were 99 adolescents (39 males, 60 females), 12-18 years old, as well as 93 parents (12 fathers and 81 mothers). Internet addiction was evaluated by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and behavioral/emotional problems by the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment. Parents reported on their adolescent's attention and hyperactivity problems on the ADHD Rating Scale-5. Electronic media used by the adolescents were computer (40.4%), tablet (44.4%), PlayStation (40.4%), Facebook (43.4%), whereas 72.7% had an account on social networks. They watched TV from 0 to over 4 h every day; specifically, 51.5% from 0 to 2 h, while only 1% over 4 h. Most of them (78.8%) used internet daily, 28.3% used internet about 6-10 h, and 24.2% used it over 20 h to watch videos on YouTube (20,2%), searched for school information (14,1%), connected with social media (13.1), played games (12.1%), looked for information on products and services (12.1%), etc. Eighty respondents (80.8%) were average internet users (IAT < 40), 19 (19.2%) had possible addiction (IAT 40-69), while no one (0%) had severe addiction (IAT ≥ 70). The Internet Αddiction scale was found to have statistically significant correlations with many of the subscales of the Achenbach questionnaire and the attention-deficit subscale of the ADHD questionnaire.Statistically significant positive correlations were found between possible internet addiction with rule-breaking behavior, problems like thought, externalization, behavioral, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and post-traumatic stress. Results suggest that misuse of electronic media may be related to ADHD traits among Greek adolescents. As rates of electronic media use among teenagers are increasing, these findings should be taken into account to protect the social, cognitive, and psychological health of adolescents. Effective interventions are needed to target specific types of electronic media use in adolescence.

27Screen time and mental health: a prospective analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.PubMed

Jason M Nagata, Abubakr A A Al-Shoaibi, Alicia W Leong, et al.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 7;24(1):2686. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20102-x.
BACKGROUND: Despite the ubiquity of adolescent screen use, there are limited longitudinal studies that examine the prospective relationships between screen time and child behavioral problems in a large, diverse nationwide sample of adolescents in the United States, which was the objective of the current study. METHODS: We analyzed cohort data of 9,538 adolescents (9-10 years at baseline in 2016-2018) with two years of follow-up from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. We used mixed-effects models to analyze associations between baseline self-reported screen time and parent-reported mental health symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist, with random effects adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, parent education, and study site. We tested for effect modification by sex and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: The sample was 48.8% female and racially/ethnically diverse (47.6% racial/ethnic minority). Higher total screen time was associated with all mental health symptoms in adjusted models, and the association was strongest for depressive (B = 0.10, 95% CI 0.06, 0.13, p < 0.001), conduct (B = 0.07, 95% CI 0.03, 0.10, p < 0.001), somatic (B = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.11, p = 0.026), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms (B = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.10, p = 0.013). The specific screen types with the greatest associations with depressive symptoms included video chat, texting, videos, and video games. The association between screen time and depressive, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, and oppositional defiant symptoms was stronger among White compared to Black adolescents. The association between screen time and depressive symptoms was stronger among White compared to Asian adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Screen time is prospectively associated with a range of mental health symptoms, especially depressive symptoms, though effect sizes are small. Video chat, texting, videos, and video games were the screen types with the greatest associations with depressive symptoms. Future research should examine potential mechanisms linking screen use with child behavior problems.

28The Association between Screen Time and Attention in Children: A Systematic Review.PubMed

Renata Maria Silva Santos, Camila Guimarães Mendes, Débora Marques Miranda, et al.
Dev Neuropsychol. 2022 Jul;47(4):175-192. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2064863. Epub 2022 Apr 17.
Electronic media pervade modern life. Childhood is a crucial period for attentional development and the screen exposure time is increasing. This review aimed to understand the association between screen time and attention of children with typical development. A systematic review was conducted in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes PRISMA being registered at Prospero under number CRD42021228721. A search was performed in January 2021 with the following keywords: "screen time," "children," and "attention," combined with the operator AND, on databases PubMed, and PsycINFO. Four hundred and ninety-eight articles were identified, and 41 papers were fully read, of which 11 were included in this review. Most studies found associations between screen time and attention in children. Only one study reported that children with more screen time performed better in an attention task. The findings suggest that exposure to excessive screen time in children can be associated with attention problems. Parents and teachers may be involved in controlling screen exposure, especially after the extensive exposition to online classes, due to the pandemic. Further studies are needed to assess the influence of this overexposure on care over time.

29Neural responses to gaming content on social media in young adults.PubMed

Yuka Fujimoto, Junya Fujino, Daisuke Matsuyoshi, et al.
Behav Brain Res. 2024 Jun 5;467:115004. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115004. Epub 2024 Apr 16.
Excessive gaming can impair both mental and physical health, drawing widespread public and clinical attention, especially among young generations. People are now more exposed to gaming-related content on social media than before, and this exposure may have a significant impact on their behavior. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this effect remain unexplored. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study aimed to investigate the neural activity induced by gaming-related content on social media among young adults casually playing online games. While being assessed by fMRI, the participants watched gaming-related videos and neutral (nongaming) videos on social media. The gaming-related cues significantly activated several brain areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, superior/middle temporal gyrus, precuneus and occipital regions, compared with the neutral cues. Additionally, the participants' gaming desire levels positively correlated with a gaming-related cue-induced activation in the left orbitofrontal cortex and the right superior temporal gyrus. These findings extend previous studies on gaming cues and provide useful information to elucidate the effects of gaming-related content on social media in young adults. Continued research using real-world gaming cues may help improve our understanding of promoting gaming habits and provide support to individuals vulnerable to gaming addiction.

30An 8-week 24-form Tai Chi intervention on cognition in Chinese college students overusing short videos: a randomized controlled trialOpenAlex

Y. Li, Chong-yao Xiao, R.-Z. Cai
Introduction: This study evaluated the effect of an 8-week practice of 24 forms of Tai Chi on cognition in college students aged 18-21 years who were overexposed to short videos. Methods: A total of 1803 short video usage questionnaires were distributed at a college in Fujian Province, China, and 1790 valid questionnaires were collected. Sixty college students who scored in the top 20% on the questionnaire were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi experimental group (TCG) or an overuse control group (OCG), with 30 participants in each. The 32 students with the lowest 20% questionnaire scores were selected as the low-frequency-use control group (LCG). The TCG participated in 24-form Tai Chi training three times a week for 8 weeks. The OCG and LCG maintained their original habits without intervention. All groups were tested before, at the end of, and 2 months after training, using the digit string memory test, word delineation test, and three E-prime tests, which test memory, sustained attention, selective attention, and comprehensive attention. Result: < 0.05). Two months post-experiment, reaction times became similar across all groups with no significant differences. Discussion: Overuse of short videos correlates with declines in sustained and comprehensive attention in college students. Tai Chi positively impacted sustained and comprehensive attention in students overusing short videos but had no significant effect on memory and selective attention. When Tai Chi training is discontinued, its positive effects gradually dissipate.

31The relationship between autistic traits, social media addiction, and loneliness in adolescents with ADHD.PubMed

Merve Onat, Dila Elif Sema Mert Kılıç, Ayda Beril Nas Ünver, et al.
Pediatr Int. 2025 Jan-Dec;67(1):e70064. doi: 10.1111/ped.70064.
BACKGROUND: Our study aims to investigate the relationship between autistic traits, social media addiction, and loneliness among adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to compare our findings with healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 90 adolescents aged 14-18 years, 50 of them diagnosed with ADHD and 40 healthy controls, were included in our study. Adolescents participating in our study were evaluated with the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form (CPRS-R:S), the Autism Spectrum Quotient-Adolescent Version (AQ-Adolescent), the 9-item Social Media Disorder Scale (SMD) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale Short Form (ULS-8). The SPSS 25.0 program was used in the analysis. p < 0.05 was accepted as the significance level. RESULTS: It is found that adolescents diagnosed with ADHD had statistically significantly higher scores on the communication, social skill, imagination, attention switching subscales, and total score of the AQ-Adolescent compared to healthy controls. Moreover, adolescents diagnosed with ADHD obtained statistically significantly higher scores from the SMD and the ULS-8 compared to healthy controls. The ULS-8 showed a significant positive correlation with the AQ-Adolescent and the SMD in the ADHD group. It was also found that only loneliness may be associated with the risk of developing social media addiction in adolescents with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that adolescents diagnosed with ADHD are susceptible to encountering challenges regarding social difficulties, feelings of loneliness, and social media addiction. It is believed that it may be essential to address these factors when dealing with social media addiction, which is prevalent among adolescents diagnosed with ADHD.

32Hyperconnected: children and adolescents on social media. The TikTok phenomenon.PubMed

Silvina B Pedrouzo, Laura Krynski
Arch Argent Pediatr. 2023 Aug 1;121(4):e202202674. doi: 10.5546/aap.2022-02674.eng. Epub 2023 Jan 26.
Network communication digital platforms have revolutionized the way we communicate, get information, and entertain ourselves; they have had a major impact on the new generations. The pandemic has increased consumption patterns at all ages and its consequences: a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, sleep, psychological, cognitive, memory/attention, and academic performance disorders, problematic behaviors, and risks of cyberbullying. The activity of the new generations on TikTok -a platform that allows them to create, view, share videos and viral challenges- has affected their behavior. Their posts lead to likes, comments, and followers; this stimulates the dopaminergic reward system, which is the basis of addictive behaviors. Pediatricians should be aware of these behaviors in order to recommend good practices. The objective of this narrative review, based on the bibliography from PubMed Central, SciELO, national and international recommendations, is to provide information and an update to health care providers on TikTok, its characteristics, and the recommendations for safe use.

33Digital Media Use and Child Health and Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PubMed

Samantha Teague, Klaire Somoray, Adrian Shatte, et al.
JAMA Pediatr. 2026 May 1;180(5):510-517. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.0085.
IMPORTANCE: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized global longitudinal studies to estimate associations between social media, video games, and other digital media use with health and developmental outcomes in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To provide a meta-analytic synthesis of evidence on digital media use and health and developmental outcomes among individuals aged 0 to 18 years. DATA SOURCES: This review was preregistered with PROSPERO, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and ERIC databases and gray literature were searched from 2000 to 2024. STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria were English-language longitudinal studies of participants aged 0 to 18 years reporting quantitative associations between digital media use and health or developmental outcomes. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Following PRISMA guidelines, 153 studies (115 cohorts, 1072 effect sizes) from 18 933 articles met criteria for quantitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled correlations (r) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity and moderators (age, sex, measurement method, follow-up duration, year of exposure) were examined. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health's Quality Assessment Tool. These data were analyzed from February 2025 to August 2025. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcomes were socialemotional, cognitive, physical and motor health, and development associations. RESULTS: A total of 153 studies (115 cohorts, 1072 effect sizes) with 18 933 participants met criteria for quantitative synthesis. Study participant ages ranged from 2 to 19 (mean [SD], 12.81 [2.79]) years, with 53.8% female and 46.2% male. Most studies were conducted in Europe (62 [40.5%]) and North America (60 [39.2%]), followed by Asia (22 [14.4%]), Australia (5 [3.3%]), and Latin America (1 [0.7%]). Social media use was associated with higher depression, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, self-injurious thoughts, problematic internet use, and substance use (r = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.06-0.12 to r = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.13-0.29) and also with lower academic achievement, poorer self-perception, and less positive development (r = -0.14; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.01 to r = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.02). Video gaming was associated with higher aggression and externalizing behaviors (r = 0.16; 95% CI, 0.09-0.23 and r = 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07-0.26, respectively) and higher attention/executive functioning (r = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.16). Other digital media use, including digital device use and messaging/communication media, was associated with depression (r = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.00-0.09 to r = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.22). Associations between social media and depression were stronger in early adolescence (β = 0.09) and with self or parent-reported outcomes (β = 0.09); associations between social media and positive development were stronger with objective exposure measurement (β = 0.08). More recent social media exposure years showed stronger associations with substance use (β = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, digital media use was consistently associated with risks to child and adolescent health and development, particularly for social media. These findings highlight the need for targeted, multifaceted policies and interventions to mitigate potential harms from digital media exposure.

34Social media use and sleep health among adolescents in Canada.PubMed

Florence Lafontaine-Poissant, Justin J Lang, Britt McKinnon, et al.
Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2024 Aug;44(7-8):338-346. doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.44.7/8.05.
INTRODUCTION: Public health concerns over the impact of social media use (SMU) on adolescent health are growing. We investigated the relationship between SMU and sleep health in adolescents in Canada aged 11 to 17 years. METHODS: Data from the 2017-2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study were available for 12 557 participants (55.2% female). SMU was categorized by frequency of use (non-active, active and intense) and the presence of addiction-like symptoms (problematic). Mixed effects logistic regression models identified associations between SMU and seven sleep health indicators (insomnia symptoms, daytime wakefulness problems, screen time before bed, meeting sleep duration recommendations, sleep variability and late bedtime on school and non-school days). RESULTS: Compared to active SMU, non-active SMU was associated with better sleep indicators, except for insomnia symptoms. Intense SMU was associated with greater odds of having poor sleep health indicators (adjusted odds ratio [aORs] from 1.09 to 2.24) and problematic SMU with the highest odds (aORs from 1.67 to 3.24). Associations with problematic SMU were greater among girls than boys, including having a later bedtime on school days (aOR = 3.74 vs. 1.84) and on non-school days (aOR = 4.13 vs. 2.18). Associations between SMU and sleep outcomes did not differ by age group. CONCLUSION: Intense and problematic SMU were associated with greater odds of poor sleep health among adolescents in Canada, with stronger associations among girls than boys. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying associations between SMU and sleep to inform public health recommendations.

35Social media use and adolescent sleep patterns: cross-sectional findings from the UK millennium cohort study.PubMed

Holly Scott, Stephany M Biello, Heather Cleland Woods
BMJ Open. 2019 Oct 22;9(9):e031161. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031161.
OBJECTIVES: This study examines associations between social media use and multiple sleep parameters in a large representative adolescent sample, controlling for a wide range of covariates. DESIGN: The authors used cross-sectional data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a large nationally representative UK birth cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Data from 11 872 adolescents (aged 13-15 years) were used in analyses. METHODS: Six self-reported sleep parameters captured sleep timing and quality: sleep onset and wake times (on school days and free days), sleep onset latency (time taken to fall asleep) and trouble falling back asleep after nighttime awakening. Binomial logistic regressions investigated associations between daily social media use and each sleep parameter, controlling for a range of relevant covariates. RESULTS: Average social media use was 1 to <3 hours per day (31.6%, n=3720). 33.7% were classed as low users (<1 hour; n=3986); 13.9% were high users (3 to <5 hours; n=1602) and 20.8% were very high users (5+ hours; n=2203). Girls reported spending more time on social media than boys. Overall, heavier social media use was associated with poorer sleep patterns, controlling for covariates. For example, very high social media users were more likely than comparable average users to report late sleep onset (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.50) and wake times (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.93) on school days and trouble falling back asleep after nighttime awakening (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.66). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a normative profile of UK adolescent social media use and sleep. Results indicate statistically and practically significant associations between social media use and sleep patterns, particularly late sleep onset. Sleep education and interventions can focus on supporting young people to balance online interactions with an appropriate sleep schedule that allows sufficient sleep on school nights.

36Digital Devices Use and Sleep in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review.PubMed

Maria Fiore, Desiree Arena, Valentina Crisafi, et al.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Oct 2;22(10):1517. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22101517.
This umbrella review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence on the relationship between digital device use and adolescent sleep. It summarizes results from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, presenting the magnitude and direction of observed associations. A total of seven systematic reviews, including five qualitative reviews and two meta-analyses, were included, comprising 127 primary studies with a combined sample of 867,003 participants. The findings suggest a negative impact of digital device use on various sleep parameters, including sleep duration, bedtime procrastination, and sleep quality. Devices such as smartphones and computers were found to have a greater adverse effect, while television use showed a weaker association. The most significant disruptions were observed in relation to social media and internet use, with problematic usage leading to delayed bedtimes, shorter sleep duration, and increased sleep onset latency. The review also highlights the role of timing and duration of device use, with late-night use particularly contributing to sleep disturbances. Biological, psychological, and social mechanisms are proposed as potential pathways underlying these effects. Despite moderate evidence supporting the negative impact of digital media on sleep, there is considerable heterogeneity across studies, and many relied on self-reported data, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research should aim to standardize exposure and outcome measures, incorporate objective data collection methods, and explore causal relationships through longitudinal studies. This umbrella review underscores the importance of developing targeted public health strategies, parental guidance, and clinical awareness to mitigate the potential adverse effects of digital device use on adolescent sleep and mental health.

37Evaluation of Nighttime Media Use and Sleep Patterns in First-semester College Students.PubMed

Jonathon Whipps, Mark Byra, Kenneth G Gerow, et al.
Am J Health Behav. 2018 May 1;42(3):47-55. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.42.3.5.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated how nighttime media use is associated with sleep behaviors in firstsemester college students, and variation by weight status. METHODS: In September 2016, first-semester college students (N = 114) completed surveys evaluating nighttime media usage (NMU) and sleep behaviors. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured, and weight status was determined by body mass index. RESULTS: Students reported a mean sleep duration of 7.26 ± 0.93 hours. Only 33% (N = 38) reported sleeping at least 8 hours/night on average. Higher scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were correlated with reports of texting after bed (r = .199, p = .04). Total time in bed was correlated with texting in bed (r = .217, p = .026) and device-related sleep interruptions (r = .215, p = .028). Social media usage (r = 0.270, p = .005), mobile gaming (r = .208, p = .033), and texting (r = .293, p = .002) were correlated with sleep interruptions. NMU was positively correlated with weight and weight status. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest NMU is associated with reduced sleep quality.

38What's Keeping Teenagers Up? Prebedtime Behaviors and Actigraphy-Assessed Sleep Over School and Vacation.PubMed

Emily Harbard, Nicholas B Allen, John Trinder, et al.
J Adolesc Health. 2016 Apr;58(4):426-432. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.12.011. Epub 2016 Feb 11.
PURPOSE: Technology-related behaviors (e.g., computer use) before bedtime (BT) have been associated with poorer and shorter sleep in adolescents; however, less is known about other behaviors in relation to sleep. This study characterized a range of behaviors in the hour before bed (i.e., pre-BT behaviors [PBBs]) and examined their relationship with sleep parameters during school and vacation periods (i.e., restricted and extended sleep opportunities, respectively). Mechanistic roles of chronotype and cognitive presleep arousal (PSAcog) were also examined. METHODS: During the last week of a school term and throughout a 2-week vacation, 146 adolescents (47.26% male, age M ± standard deviation = 16.2 ± 1.0 years) from the general community completed daily sleep measure using actigraphy, self-report measures on PBBs and PSAcog (Presleep Arousal Scale) for both school and vacation periods, and chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire). RESULTS: Adolescents engaged in a variety of behaviors before bed. Notably, playing video games was associated with significantly later school and vacation BT and shorter school sleep duration (controlling for chronotype). During vacation, online social media was associated with significantly longer sleep onset latency, and this relationship was mediated by higher PSAcog. In contrast, on school nights, spending time with family was associated with significantly earlier BT and longer sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS: Technology-related PBBs video games and online social media were risk factors for shorter and poorer sleep, whereas time with family was protective of sleep duration. In addressing sleep problems in adolescents, therapeutic procedures that target the potentially addictive nature of technology use and reduce PSAcog were implicated.

39Bedtime screen use behaviors and sleep outcomes: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.PubMed

Jason M Nagata, Gurbinder Singh, Joanne H Yang, et al.
Sleep Health. 2023 Aug;9(4):497-502. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2023.02.005. Epub 2023 Apr 23.
OBJECTIVES: To determine associations between bedtime screen time behaviors and sleep outcomes in a national study of early adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 10,280 early adolescents aged 10-14 (48.8% female) in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Year 2, 2018-2020). Regression analyses examined the association between self-reported bedtime screen use and self- and caregiver-reported sleep measures, including sleep disturbance symptoms, controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, household income, parent education, depression, data collection period (pre- vs. during COVID-19 pandemic), and study site. RESULTS: Overall, 16% of adolescents had at least some trouble falling or staying asleep in the past 2 weeks and 28% had overall sleep disturbance, based on caregiver reports. Adolescents who had a television or an Internet-connected electronic device in the bedroom had a greater risk of having trouble falling or staying asleep (adjusted risk ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.44) and overall sleep disturbance (adjusted risk ratio 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.25). Adolescents who left their phone ringer activated overnight had more trouble falling/staying asleep and greater overall sleep disturbance compared to those who turned off their cell phones at bedtime. Streaming movies, playing video games, listening to music, talking/texting on the phone, and using social media or chat rooms were all associated with trouble falling/staying asleep and sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Several bedtime screen use behaviors are associated with sleep disturbances in early adolescents. The study's findings can inform guidance for specific bedtime screen behaviors among early adolescents.

40Recreational screen time behaviour among ambulatory children and adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy: A cross-sectional analysis.PubMed

Christina Esmann Fonvig, Jens Troelsen, Anders Holsgaard-Larsen
Child Care Health Dev. 2024 Jan;50(1):e13221. doi: 10.1111/cch.13221.
AIM: To describe the recreational screen time behaviour of 8-16-year-olds diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and explore associations between health-related quality of life, sleep duration and physical activity behaviour versus screen time. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used proxy-reported questionnaire data of 381 ambulatory (with or without assistance) 8-16-year-olds diagnosed with CP corresponding to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III. Descriptive statistics were used to report age, sex and the GMFCS level. The potential associations of health-related quality of life, physical activity behaviour and sleep duration (dependent variables) versus screen time (independent variable) were determined using multiple linear regression. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, including seven dimensions: Daily Activities; School Activities; Movement and Balance; Pain and Hurt; Fatigue; Eating Activities; and Speech and Communication. RESULTS: The participants spent a median screen time of 3.9 h daily. The boys spent a longer screen time during weekends than the girls (p = 0.003). Boys spent more time on games (p < 0.001), whereas girls spent more time on social media and video calls (p < 0.001). Increasing age (p < 0.001) was associated with increased screen time but did not differ between the GMFCS levels. Sleep duration, perceived fatigue and perceived movement and balance correlated negatively with screen time. CONCLUSION: This study sheds light on the recreational screen time habits of ambulatory children and adolescents diagnosed with CP. Further investigation into the observed associations is warranted to investigate potential causation and relationships between sleep behaviour, quality of life and screen time behaviour.

41Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on screen time and sleep in early adolescents.PubMed

Orsolya Kiss, Jason M Nagata, Massimiliano de Zambotti, et al.
Health Psychol. 2023 Dec;42(12):894-903. doi: 10.1037/hea0001251. Epub 2023 Mar 27.
OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents and families have turned to online activities and social platforms more than ever to maintain well-being, connect remotely with friends and family, and online schooling. However, excessive screen use can have negative effects on health (e.g., sleep). This study examined changes in sleep habits and recreational screen time (social media, video gaming), and their relationship, before and across the first year of the pandemic in adolescents in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. METHOD: Mixed-effect models were used to examine associations between self-reported sleep and screen time using longitudinal data of 5,027 adolescents in the ABCD Study, assessed before the pandemic (10-13 years) and across six time points between May 2020 and March 2021 (pandemic). RESULTS: Time in bed varied, being higher during May-August 2020 relative to pre-pandemic, partially related to the school summer break, before declining in October 2020 to levels lower than pre-pandemic. Screen time steeply increased and remained high across all pandemic time points relative to pre-pandemic. Higher social media use and video gaming were associated with shorter time in bed, later bedtimes, and longer sleep onset latency. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep behavior and screen time changed during the pandemic in early adolescents. More screen time was associated with poorer sleep behavior, before and during the pandemic. While recreational screen usage is an integral component of adolescent's activities, especially during the pandemic, excessive use can have negative effects on essential health behaviors, highlighting the need to promote balanced screen usage. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

42Changes in sleep patterns and disturbances in children and adolescents in Italy during the Covid-19 outbreak.PubMed

Oliviero Bruni, Emanuela Malorgio, Mattia Doria, et al.
Sleep Med. 2022 Mar;91:166-174. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.02.003. Epub 2021 Feb 9.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep patterns and sleep disturbances in Italian children and adolescents. METHODS: Participants completed an anonymous online survey, shared via social media and targeting children and adolescents aged 1-18 years, subdivided into age groups: 1-3, 4-5, 6-12, and 13-18 years. Caregivers completed a modified version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), along with demographic information. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 4314 subjects: 2217 males (50.4%) and 2097 females (49.6%). Age group distribution was: 1-3 years 1263 (29.3%), 4-5 years 893 (20.7%), 6-12 years 1848 (42.8%) and 13-18 years 310 (7.2%). We found a significant delay in bedtime and risetime in all age groups. School-age children and adolescents experienced the most significant delay: weekday bedtime ≥23 was reported by 28.4% of 6- to 12-year-old children during lockdown vs. 0.9% before and by 63.5% vs. 12.3% of 13- to 18-year-old adolescents. Risetime was also delayed with most subjects waking up after 8 in all age groups and sleep duration increased in all groups but not in the younger group. The screen time (excluding online lessons) boosted during the lockdown, mainly in older children but also in younger children. Sleep disorders increased in all groups but not in adolescents. Younger groups had an increased prevalence of difficulty falling asleep, anxiety at bedtime, night awakenings, nightmares and sleep terrors. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that confinement due to COVID-19 determined a big delay in sleep/wake schedule of children in all age groups as well as an increase of sleep disturbances in all groups but adolescents.

43Analysis of Factors Related to Social Network Service Addiction Among Korean High School Students.PubMed

Mi-Ran Kim, Jae-Woo Oh, Bo-Yun Huh
J Addict Nurs. 2020 Jul/Sep;31(3):203-212. doi: 10.1097/JAN.0000000000000350.
We employed a descriptive survey to determine the effects of excessive social network service (SNS) usage. Measures of SNS addiction, SNS fatigue, anxiety, and school life adjustment were employed with 209 high school students (85.2% female, 14.8% male). SNS addiction increased as students became more dissatisfied with school life, used SNS for a longer period, and had increased access to SNS as compared with their counterparts. SNS addiction was positively correlated with SNS fatigue (r = .24, p < .001) and anxiety (r = .20, p = .003). SNS fatigue and anxiety were positively correlated (r = .30, p < .001), and school adjustment and anxiety were negatively correlated (r = -.25, p < .001). SNS daily use (in both frequency and number of minutes) and anxiety were associated with SNS addiction (adjusted R = 38.4%). It is necessary to develop intervention programs for vulnerable groups and promote early screening for SNS addiction.

44Electronic media use and sleep in children and adolescents in western countries: a systematic review.PubMed

Lisbeth Lund, Ida Nielsen Sølvhøj, Dina Danielsen, et al.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Sep 30;21(1):1598. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11640-9.
BACKGROUND: Sleep is essential for child and adolescent health and well-being. There is an increasing interest in whether electronic media use affects children and young adolescents' sleep. Prior reviews have focused on a school-aged population. Moreover, it is crucial that research continuously addresses the processes of technology and media use and the implication on sleep. This systematic review examines the evidence of electronic media use related to sleep among 0-15-year-olds. METHODS: Searches were carried out in four databases (CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Medline). Inclusion criteria included age ≤ 15 years, and intervention, cohort, or cross-sectional studies from western countries. Methodological quality was rated using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies by two independent reviewers. Data was extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Synthesis was done by summarizing results across studies by age groups of 0-5, 6-12, and 13-15 years within four sleep domains: Bedtime and sleep onset; Sleep quality; Sleep duration; Daytime tiredness. RESULTS: The search identified 10,719 unique studies, of which 109 fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria and were assessed for methodological quality. In total, 49 studies were included in the review. The study designs were randomized controlled trials (n = 3), quasi-experimental studies (n = 2), prospective cohort studies (n = 15), and cross-sectional studies (n = 29). Evidence for an association between electronic media use and sleep duration was identified, with stronger evidence for 6-15-years-olds than 0-5-year-olds. The evidence for a relationship between electronic media use and other sleep outcomes was more inconclusive. However, for 6-12-year-old children, there was evidence for associations of electronic media use with delayed bedtime and poor sleep quality. For 13-15-year-olds, there was evidence for associations between screen time and problems falling asleep, and between social media use and poor sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, electronic media use was generally associated with shorter sleep duration in children and adolescents. Studies with stronger research design and of higher quality are needed to draw solid conclusions about electronic media's impact on other sleep outcomes. Public awareness and interventions could be promoted about the potential negative impact on children's sleep of electronic media devices that are used excessively and close to bedtime.

45Sleep health and its related influencing factors in primary and middle school students in Fuzhou: A large multi-center cross-sectional study.PubMed

Xingyan Xu, Fuhao Zheng, Yingying Cai, et al.
Front Public Health. 2022 Aug 4;10:924741. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.924741. eCollection 2022.
BACKGROUND: This current study set out to investigate the status of sleep health in 7-20-year-old students in Fuzhou and explore the related influencing factors of sleep health. METHODS: A total of 38,467 children and adolescents in Fuzhou were included in the study through a random stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected from May to June 2019, in 18 primary schools and 18 middle schools from nine districts, Fuzhou. Children's parents and adolescents of sampled classes were invited to fill out a series of questionnaires about the performance of the last 6 months (sociodemographic characteristics, sleep-related lifestyle behaviors, and electronic-products usage). Multiple linear regression was carried out to analyze data. RESULTS: Of the total 40,888 questionnaires we released, 38,467 were valid and effective with the response rate was 94.08%. The age of the surveyed participants was 11.85 ± 3.1, including 20,013 boys and 18,454 girls. The multiple linear regression analysis identified factors associated with sleep health ( < 0.05): Boy (coef = 0.073, 95% CI: 0.030-0.115), age (coef = 1.797, 95% CI: 0.224-0.243), key school (coef = 2.069, 95% CI: 0.105-0.193), urban (coef = 0.096, 95% CI: 0.054-0.139), excessive daytime sleepiness (coef = 0.535, 95% CI: 0.432-0.639), unhealthy sleep habits (coef = 0.363, 95% CI: 0.307-0.419), eating before sleep (coef = 0.578, 95% CI: 0.527-0.630), using electronic products in bedroom (coef = 0.074, 95% CI: 0.028-0.121), screen time per day during school (coef = 0.260, 95% CI: 0.235-0.284), frequency of using electronics 30 min before bedtime (coef = 0.150, 95% CI: 0.134-0.166), strained relationship with parents (coef = 0.361, 95% CI: 0.270-0.452), strained relationship with peers (coef = 0.267, 95% CI: 0.171-0.363), excessive homework or learning (coef = 0.189, 95% CI: 0.141-0.237), time for doing homework (coef = 0.266, 95% CI: 0.245-0.287), and mood swings frequently (coef = 1.174, 95% CI: 1.127-1.221) negatively impact sleep health. Sleep alone (coef = -0.204, 95% CI: -0.262-0.147) were the risk factors for sleep health. Furthermore, frequent mood swings was considered the most influential factor on overall variables. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep health is associated with factors covered sociodemographic characteristics, family sleep habits, and routine activities before bedtime. Multiple measures should be taken to improve sleep quality in a targeted manner.

46[The use of social media modifies teenagers' sleep-related behavior].PubMed

S Royant-Parola, V Londe, S Tréhout, et al.
Encephale. 2018 Sep;44(4):321-328. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2017.03.009. Epub 2017 Jun 8.
OBJECTIVE: Modification of sleep behaviors in teenagers has been observed over the past 30years with a reduction in overall sleep time and an increasing number of teenagers suffering from sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is linked to physical problems such as obesity but also to change in performance at school and mood disorders. Changes have been associated with the use of screens, cell phones, Internet and social media. Use of screens has been shown to delay sleep onset and melatonin secretion and stimulation of wake systems by interaction with social media may exacerbate these effects. The links between the use of social media and sleep patterns have not been fully explored. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of social media on teenagers' sleep and the impact of sleep deprivation. METHODOLOGY: As part of a sleep education program conducted in middle schools, teenagers from 6th to 9th grade were invited to complete an online questionnaire on sleep habits with teacher supervision and after parental consent. Outcome measures were sleep and wake times with estimated sleep duration in school (SP) and rest periods (RP), use of screens (computers, tablets, smartphones and video game consoles), the use of social media and impact on visual analogue scales of sleep quality, mood and daytime functioning. Students were divided into those with clear sleep deprivation (sleep time<6hours in SP) and those whose sleep time was in line with the National Sleep Foundations recommended sleep needs for teenagers (9hours or more). RESULTS: A total of 786 questionnaires were completed and 776 were exploitable. Four schools took part with 408/786 girls (64.2 %) and a mean age of 12.4±1.24. Internet access was almost universal (98.3 %), 85.2 % had cell phones and 42.7 % had a personal computer in their bedroom. Social media was used by 64.6 %. After dinner, 52.6 % spent more than an hour and 14.7 % spent more than 2hours in front of a screen. After bedtime, 51.7 % regularly used electronic devices of which 25.6 % had a screen-based activity (e.g. texts, social media, video games or television). During the night, some teens woke up to continue screen-based activities: 6.1 % in order to play online video games, 15.3 % to send texts and 11 % to use social media. Bedtimes were later in PR compared with PS (22h06±132 vs. 23h54±02; P<0.0001) as were wake times (7h06±36 vs. 10h06±102; P<0.0001). Sleep time was clearly longer in PR (10h12±126 P<0.0001) compared to PS. For students in 6th grade compared to 9th grade in sleep duration in SP decreased (8:55±90 vs. 7:25±93; P<0.0001), whereas sleep duration during RP was stable (10h08±118 vs. 10h08±90 P<0.029). No significant difference was found between girls and boys for sleep duration, sleep quality, performance during the day or mood. Sleep deprivation during the week (6hours or less) was less common in 6th graders 5 % vs. 15 % (P<0.0001). In sleep deprived teens compared to teens sleeping, the recommended ≥9hours, difficulties falling asleep were reported with 33 % vs. 9 % taking over an hour to fall asleep (P<0.0001) and difficulties getting up in the morning were more common (7.05±3.27 vs. 5.74±2.97; P=0.0003). Sleep deprivation had an effect on daytime performance: teenagers deprived of sleep were more likely to report a need to fight sleepiness, (5.93±3.24 vs. 2.84±2.44 P<0.0001) and had reduced energy during the day (6.21±2.86 vs. 7.77±2.07 P<0.0001). A negative effect on mood was evident: in sleep, deprived teenagers irritability (5.28±3.12 vs. 3.30±2.34; P<0.0001) and feelings of sadness (3.97±2.99 vs. 2.59±2.15; P=0.003) were more common. There was a clear association between sleep deprivation and access to screens and social media: sleep deprived teens were at more risk of nocturnal disruption with a higher prevalence of computers (67 % vs. 33 %; P<0.0001), cell phones (99 % vs. 80 %; P=0.0001) and smart phones (85 % vs. 66 %; P=0.0001) in their bedrooms. CONCLUSIONS: Access to social media and especially a cell phone in teenagers' bedrooms is associated with a reduction in sleep time during the school week with negative effects on daily functioning and mood which increases with increasing age. Education about use of social media and sleep for teenagers needs to start early as modifications in sleep and evening use of screens was present on our population from 11years on and to involve parents as setting parent controlled bedtimes has been shown to increase teenage sleep time.

47Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence.PubMed

Patti M Valkenburg, Adrian Meier, Ine Beyens
Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Apr;44:58-68. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017. Epub 2021 Aug 18.
Literature reviews on how social media use affects adolescent mental health have accumulated at an unprecedented rate of late. Yet, a higher-level integration of the evidence is still lacking. We fill this gap with an up-to-date umbrella review, a review of reviews published between 2019 and mid-2021. Our search yielded 25 reviews: seven meta-analyses, nine systematic, and nine narrative reviews. Results showed that most reviews interpreted the associations between social media use and mental health as 'weak' or 'inconsistent,' whereas a few qualified the same associations as 'substantial' and 'deleterious.' We summarize the gaps identified in the reviews, provide an explanation for their diverging interpretations, and suggest several avenues for future research.

48Exploring adolescents' perspectives on social media and mental health and well-being - A qualitative literature review.PubMed

Anjali Popat, Carolyn Tarrant
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023 Jan;28(1):323-337. doi: 10.1177/13591045221092884. Epub 2022 Jun 7.
Many quantitative studies have supported the association between social media use and poorer mental health, with less known about adolescents' perspectives on social media's impact on their mental health and wellbeing. This narrative literature review aimed to explore their perspectives, focusing on adolescents aged between 13 and 17. It reviewed qualitative studies published between January 2014 and December 2020, retrieved from four databases: APA Psychinfo, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar. The literature search obtained 24 research papers. Five main themes were identified: 1) Self-expression and validation, 2) Appearance comparison and body ideals, 3) Pressure to stay connected, 4) Social engagement and peer support and 5) Exposure to bullying and harmful content. This review has highlighted how social media use can contribute to poor mental health - through validation-seeking practices, fear of judgement, body comparison, addiction and cyberbullying. It also demonstrates social media's positive impact on adolescent wellbeing - through connection, support and discussion forums for those with similar diagnoses. Future research should consider adolescent views on improvements to social media, studying younger participants, and the impact of COVID-19 on social media use and its associated mental health implications.

49TikTok use and psychosocial factors among adolescents: Comparisons of non-users, moderate users, and addictive users.PubMed

Miao Chao, Jing Lei, Ru He, et al.
Psychiatry Res. 2023 Jul;325:115247. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115247. Epub 2023 May 6.
Short-video applications like TikTok are increasingly popular. This study examines the association between short-video application use (SVU) and psychosocial factors in 1,346 adolescents (M = 14.97, 51.8% female). 199 non-users and 1147 users (686 moderate users, 461 addictive users) were identified. Results revealed a high prevalence of addictive SVU in the sample. Addictive users exhibited worse mental health conditions than non-users and moderate users, including higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, social anxiety, attention problems, and lower life satisfaction and sleep quality. Addictive users also faced higher academic stress, poorer academic performance, more bullying victimization, worse parental relationships, more negative parenting styles, and lower parental education levels. Moderate users had different family environments than non-users, but no differences in mental health or school performance. Together, these findings suggest that addictive users experience a more disadvantageous situation across mental health, family, and school conditions, while non-users have advantageous family environments. Moderate SVU may not be associated with negative mental health condition or poor school performance. Moderate and addictive SVU should be considered distinct phenomena. Given the psychiatric symptoms present in addictive users of TikTok and similar apps, targeted interventions and treatments are urgently needed.

50Social Identity, Social Media Use, and Mental Health in Adults: Investigating the Mediating Role of Cyberbullying Experiences and the Moderating Effects of Gender and AgeOpenAlex

Natali Barragan, Amanda Batista, Deborah L. Hall, et al.
Purpose: Previous research points to a complex relation between social media use and mental health, with open questions remaining with respect to mediation pathways and potential sociodemographic moderators. The present research investigated the extent to which experiences of cyberbullying victimization mediate the link between greater social media use and poorer mental health in adults and whether such indirect effects are moderated by gender or age. Participants and Methods: = 502) completed an online survey that included measures of degree of social media use, cyberbullying victimization, depression, anxiety, substance use, and sociodemographic characteristics including gender and age. Results: A series of moderated mediation models revealed a robust indirect effect of cyberbullying victimization on the relation between degree of social media use and mental health, such that greater social media use was associated with higher levels of cyberbullying victimization and greater cyberbullying victimization was associated with increased depression, anxiety, and likelihood of substance use. There was no evidence that the mediation effects varied between men and women. Age did, however, moderate the mediation effects for anxiety and likelihood of substance use, with stronger mediation effects emerging for younger compared to older adults. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of empirical investigations that shed a more nuanced light on the complex relation between social media and mental health.

51Social media misuse explained by emotion dysregulation and self-concept: an ecological momentary assessment approach.PubMed

Guyonne Rogier, Stefania Muzi, Cecilia Serena Pace
Cogn Emot. 2024 Dec;38(8):1261-1270. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2363413. Epub 2024 Jun 11.
Studies suggested that emotion dysregulation and identity processes are involved in social media (SM) misuse, even if their proximal role has not been investigated. Previous studies rarely discriminated between specific activities or between types of SM. We recruited 50 young adults and implemented a momentary ecological assessment measurement. Four times by day, during seven days, we measured SM use, frequency of several activities on SM, emotion dysregulation, distress and clarity of self-concept. Daily time spent on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were retrieved from devices. Intradaily changes in emotion dysregulation and clarity of self-concept predict changes in SM addiction symptoms and frequency of use according to the type of activity. Daily changes in time spent on SM were not predicted by emotion dysregulation, distress and self-concept clarity. Findings suggest that emotion dysregulation and poor self-concept clarity are proximal risk factors for SM misuse.

52Young women's body image following upwards comparison to Instagram models: The role of physical appearance perfectionism and cognitive emotion regulation.PubMed

Sarah E McComb, Jennifer S Mills
Body Image. 2021 Sep;38:49-62. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.03.012. Epub 2021 Mar 30.
The present study examined whether trait physical appearance perfectionism moderates young women's body image following upwards appearance comparison to idealized body images on social media, and whether cognitive coping mediates the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and resulting body image from social comparison processes. Female undergraduate students (N = 142) were randomly assigned to either 1) compare the size of their body parts to the body parts of attractive Instagram models, or 2) an appearance-neutral control condition. All participants completed measures of trait physical appearance perfectionism, pre and post measures of state body image, and state cognitive coping processes. Appearance comparison to the models resulted in lowered confidence and increased appearance and weight dissatisfaction. High trait physical appearance perfectionism predicted lower confidence and higher weight dissatisfaction and appearance dissatisfaction, and these relationships were mediated by engagement in rumination and catastrophizing. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

53Social media usage and alexithymia in nursing students.PubMed

Sevinç Mersin, Özlem İbrahimoğlu, Hülya Saray Kılıç, et al.
Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2020 Apr;56(2):401-408. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12448. Epub 2019 Nov 3.
PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between social media usage characteristics and alexithymia in nursing students. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was conducted with 272 nursing students between November and December 2018 in Turkey. Data were collected using an information form to determine the sociodemographic and social media usage characteristics of the students, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. FINDINGS: According to the results of this study, nursing students use Instagram the most. As time spent on social media increases, the alexithymia score increases and students have difficulty recognizing their feelings. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: As the use of social media by nursing students affects their mental process and behavior patterns, the results of social media applications, which witness a wide range of feelings, thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, should be included in the nursing curriculum.

54The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire StudyOpenAlex

Chenxi Liu, Yushu Liu, Chaojie Liu, et al.
BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders are a major public health challenge, and problematic internet use (PIU) may play an important role in this issue. However, the underlying mechanisms of PIU and its effects on mental health have not yet been elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between PIU and mental health, as well as the moderating effect of social media identity on the relationships among PIU, loneliness, and mental health. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 21,292 participants recruited using a multistage stratified sampling strategy from 31 provinces/regions in mainland China from June 20 to August 31, 2022. This study assesses PIU (PIU questionnaire-short form-6), depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]), loneliness (3-item loneliness scale), and social media identity (identity bubble reinforcement scale). Additionally, we collected the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Participants whose total score of PHQ-9≥15 or total score of GAD-7≥10 were considered to have moderate or severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, respectively. A moderated mediation model was established to examine the mediating effect of loneliness on the association between PIU and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety), moderated by social media identity. RESULTS: Approximately 22.80% (4854/21,292) and 14.20% (3023/21,292) of the respondents reported moderate or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Loneliness significantly mediated the association between PIU and mental health outcomes, explaining 42.53% and 45.48% of the total effect of PIU on depression and anxiety, respectively. Social media identity significantly moderated the associations between PIU and depression (β=0.002, 95% CI 0.001-0.002), PIU and anxiety (β=0.001, 95% CI 0.000-0.002), loneliness and depression (β=0.010, 95% CI 0.007-0.013), and loneliness and anxiety (β=0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010), but not between PIU and loneliness (β=0.000, 95% CI -0.003 to 0.003). Higher levels of social media identity were significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness (β=-0.018, 95% CI -0.020 to -0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Addressing loneliness may serve as a valuable approach to mitigate the impact of PIU on mental health outcomes. However, social media identity poses a significant challenge in addressing health issues linked to PIU.

55Impacts of COVID-19 quarantine and isolation on adolescent social functioning.PubMed

Rosanna Breaux, Annah R Cash, Jasmine Lewis, et al.
Curr Opin Psychol. 2023 Aug;52:101613. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101613. Epub 2023 Jun 1.
This review discusses research conducted globally between March 2020 and March 2023 examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent social functioning, including their lifestyle, extracurricular activities, family environment, peer environment, and social skills. Research highlights the widespread impact, with largely negative effects. However, a handful of studies support improved quality of relationships for some young people. Study findings underscore the importance of technology for fostering social communication and connectedness during periods of isolation and quarantine. Most studies specifically examining social skills were cross-sectional and conducted in clinical populations, such as autistic or socially anxious youth. As such, it is critical that ongoing research examines the long-term social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ways to promote meaningful social connectedness via virtual interactions.

56The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health.PubMed

Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Savannah R Roberts, Anne J Maheux, et al.
Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2022 Dec;25(4):681-701. doi: 10.1007/s10567-022-00404-5. Epub 2022 Jul 16.
In this theoretical review paper, we provide a developmental-sociocultural framework for the role of social media (SM) in adolescent girls' body image concerns, and in turn, depressive symptoms and disordered eating. We propose that the features of SM (e.g., idealized images of peers, quantifiable feedback) intersect with adolescent developmental factors (e.g., salience of peer relationships) and sociocultural gender socialization processes (e.g., societal over-emphasis on girls' and women's physical appearance) to create the "perfect storm" for exacerbating girls' body image concerns. We argue that, ultimately, body image concerns may be a key mechanism underlying associations between adolescent girls' SM use and mental health. In the context of proposing this framework, we provide empirical evidence for how SM may increase adolescent girls' body image concerns through heightening their focus on (1) other people's physical appearance (e.g., through exposure to idealized images of peers, celebrities, and SM influencers; quantifiable indicators of approval); and (2) their own appearance (e.g., through appearance-related SM consciousness; exposure to idealized self-images; encouraging over-valuing of appearance; and peer approval of photos/videos). Our framework highlights new avenues for future research on adolescent girls' SM use and mental health, which recognize the central role of body image.

57Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents.PubMed

Michelle O'Reilly, Nisha Dogra, Natasha Whiteman, et al.
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;23(4):601-613. doi: 10.1177/1359104518775154. Epub 2018 May 20.
Despite growing evidence of the effects of social media on the mental health of adolescents, there is still a dearth of empirical research into how adolescents themselves perceive social media, especially as knowledge resource, or how they draw upon the wider social and media discourses to express a viewpoint. Accordingly, this article contributes to this scarce literature. Six focus groups took place over 3 months with 54 adolescents aged 11-18 years, recruited from schools in Leicester and London (UK). Thematic analysis suggested that adolescents perceived social media as a threat to mental wellbeing and three themes were identified: (1) it was believed to cause mood and anxiety disorders for some adolescents, (2) it was viewed as a platform for cyberbullying and (3) the use of social media itself was often framed as a kind of 'addiction'. Future research should focus on targeting and utilising social media for promoting mental wellbeing among adolescents and educating youth to manage the possible deleterious effects.

58Social Media Use in Adolescents: Bans, Benefits, and Emotion Regulation Behaviors.PubMed

Kelsey L McAlister, Clare C Beatty, Jacqueline E Smith-Caswell, et al.
JMIR Ment Health. 2024 Nov 4;11:e64626. doi: 10.2196/64626.
Social media is an integral part of adolescents' daily lives, but the significant time they invest in social media has raised concerns about the effect on their mental health. Bans and severe restrictions on social media use are quickly emerging as an attempt to regulate social media use; however, evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited. Adolescents experience several benefits from social media, including increased social connection, reduced loneliness, and a safe space for marginalized groups (eg, LGBTQ+) to interact. Rather than enforcing bans and severe restrictions, emotion regulation should be leveraged to help adolescents navigate the digital social environment. This viewpoint paper proposes a nuanced approach toward regulating adolescent social media use by (1) discontinuing the use of ineffective bans, (2) recognizing the benefits social media use can have, and (3) fostering emotion regulation skills in adolescents to encourage the development of self-regulation.

59Responses to Mental Health Care Posts by Social Media Influencers: The Moderating Effects of Previous Experience and Follower InvolvementOpenAlex

Olivia Simone Reed
ABSTRACTMental health information on social media is more often communicated by regular users as opposed to healthcare professionals, and a subset of these regular users, social media influencers, are employed as marketing sources for therapy companies. According to social cognitive theory, an influencer's story about their positive experiences with therapy should encourage followers to also seek therapy, and stronger involvement with the influencer should enhance these effects. Although research has found that previous experience with modeled behaviors may mute vicarious learning effects, with a nuanced and stigmatized context like mental health treatment, it is important to parse out both the quantity and valence of previous experience in understanding how it shapes audience responses to mental health content on social media. The current study tests a moderated mediation model to help explain the impact of previous viewer experience with therapy (quantity and valence) and involvement with the influencer (similarity and parasocial relationship) on social cognitive theory-related outcomes. Results indicate no interaction effects of the moderators; however, there were direct positive effects of previous viewer experience and SMI outcome on outcome expectations, which in turn positively predicted behavioral intentions to seek therapy. Interestingly, self-efficacy had a negative effect on behavioral intentions. AcknowledgmentsThank you Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick for your assistance in the shaping of this project.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Supplementary dataSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2023.2269542.Additional informationNotes on contributorsOlivia Simone ReedOlivia Simone Reed (PhD, Pennsylvania State University) is an assistant professor in the Department of Professional Communication at Minot State University. Dr. Reed studies health media effects in the context of social media influencers and is a content creator herself on YouTube and Instagram.

60The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health.PubMed

Amy Orben, Livia Tomova, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2020 Aug;4(8):634-640. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30186-3. Epub 2020 Jun 12.
Adolescence (the stage between 10 and 24 years) is a period of life characterised by heightened sensitivity to social stimuli and the increased need for peer interaction. The physical distancing measures mandated globally to contain the spread of COVID-19 are radically reducing adolescents' opportunities to engage in face-to-face social contact outside their household. In this interdisciplinary Viewpoint, we describe literature from a variety of domains that highlight how social deprivation in adolescence might have far-reaching consequences. Human studies have shown the importance of peer acceptance and peer influence in adolescence. Animal research has shown that social deprivation and isolation have unique effects on brain and behaviour in adolescence compared with other stages of life. However, the decrease in adolescent face-to-face contact might be less detrimental due to widespread access to digital forms of social interaction through technologies such as social media. The findings reviewed highlight how physical distancing might have a disproportionate effect on an age group for whom peer interaction is a vital aspect of development.

61The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities.PubMed

Jacqueline Nesi
N C Med J. 2020 Mar-Apr;81(2):116-121. doi: 10.18043/ncm.81.2.116.
The technology landscape has rapidly evolved in recent years, with social media now playing a central role in the lives of youth. Social media has created both significant new challenges and exciting opportunities. Research is beginning to uncover how specific social media experiences may influence youth mental health.

62Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.PubMed

Holly Shannon, Katie Bush, Paul J Villeneuve, et al.
JMIR Ment Health. 2022 Apr 14;9(4):e33450. doi: 10.2196/33450.
BACKGROUND: Technology is ever evolving, with more and more diverse activities becoming possible on screen-based devices. However, participating in a heavy screen-based lifestyle may come at a cost. Our hypothesis was that problematic social media use increased the prevalence of mental health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to systematically examine problematic social media use in youth and its association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted to identify studies in adolescents and young adults, using the databases Engineering Village, Psycinfo, Pubmed, and Web of Science. A total of 18 studies were identified, with a total of 9269 participants in our review and included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our metaregression shows moderate but statistically significant correlations between problematic social media use and depression (r=0.273, P<.001), anxiety (r=0.348, P<.001), and stress (r=0.313, P<.001). We did not find evidence of heterogeneity of these summary correlations by age, gender, or year of publication. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence of the association between problematic social media use and negative mental health among adolescents and young adults and supports future research to focus on the underlying mechanisms of problematic use of social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021222309; https://tinyurl.com/2p9y4bjx.

63The Smartphone Addiction Scale: Development and Validation of a Short Version for AdolescentsOpenAlex

Min Jeong Kwon, Dai‐Jin Kim, Hyun Cho, et al.
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the revised and short version of the smartphone addiction scale and the proof of its validity in adolescents. In addition, it suggested cutting off the values by gender in order to determine smartphone addiction and elaborate the characteristics of smartphone usage in adolescents. METHOD: A set of questionnaires were provided to a total of 540 selected participants from April to May of 2013. The participants consisted of 343 boys and 197 girls, and their average age was 14.5 years old. The content validity was performed on a selection of shortened items, while an internal-consistency test was conducted for the verification of its reliability. The concurrent validity was confirmed using SAS, SAPS and KS-scale. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was conducted to suggest cut-off. RESULTS: The 10 final questions were selected using content validity. The internal consistency and concurrent validity of SAS were verified with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.911. The SAS-SV was significantly correlated with the SAS, SAPS and KS-scale. The SAS-SV scores of gender (p<.001) and self-evaluation of smartphone addiction (p<.001) showed significant difference. The ROC analysis results showed an area under a curve (AUC) value of 0.963(0.888-1.000), a cut-off value of 31, sensitivity value of 0.867 and specificity value of 0.893 in boys while an AUC value of 0.947(0.887-1.000), a cut-off value of 33, sensitivity value of 0.875, and a specificity value of 0.886 in girls. CONCLUSIONS: The SAS-SV showed good reliability and validity for the assessment of smartphone addiction. The smartphone addiction scale short version, which was developed and validated in this study, could be used efficiently for the evaluation of smartphone addiction in community and research areas.

64Assessing problematic use of social media: where do we stand and what can be improved?OpenAlex

Ilaria Cataldo, Joël Billieux, Gianluca Esposito, et al.
The increased popularity of social media has brought clinicians and researchers to question the potential problematic outcomes of such Internet-based applications. Over the past two decades, an increasing number of studies identified the so-called problematic use of social media (PUSM), which led to the development of various assessment tools requiring constant revisions because of the ever-evolving nature of the Internet. This review summarizes the most frequently used measurement tools in PUSM research while suggesting best practices and directions for future research based on the most recent evidence in the field.

65Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms During Early Adolescence.PubMed

Jason M Nagata, Christopher D Otmar, Joan Shim, et al.
JAMA Netw Open. 2025 May 1;8(5):e2511704. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11704.
IMPORTANCE: In 2023, the US Surgeon General issued the Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, identifying critical research gaps that preclude evidence-based guidance given that most studies of social media and mental health have been cross-sectional rather than longitudinal and have focused on young adults or older adolescents rather than on younger adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate longitudinal associations between social media use (time spent on social media) and depressive symptoms across 4 annual waves spanning a 3-year follow-up period from late childhood to early adolescence. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this prospective cohort study using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study across 21 study sites from October 2016 to October 2018, children aged 9 to 10 years at baseline were assessed across 4 waves (baseline, year 1, year 2, and year 3), with year-3 follow-up through 2022. Sample sizes varied across waves and measures due to attrition and missing data. Analyses retained all available data at each wave. Data were analyzed from January 2024 to March 2025. EXPOSURES: Self-reported time spent on social media at baseline to 3-year follow-up. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Reciprocal associations between social media use and depressive symptoms (Child Behavior Checklist) at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 years of follow-up were assessed using longitudinal, cross-lagged structural equation panel models. Covariates included sex, race and ethnicity, household income, and parental educational level. RESULTS: At baseline, the sample included 11 876 participants (mean [SD] age, 9.9 [0.6] years), of whom 6196 (52.2%) were male. After adjusting for stable between-person differences and covariates, within-person increases in social media use above the person-level mean were associated with elevated depressive symptoms from year 1 to year 2 (β, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01-0.12; P = .01) and from year 2 to year 3 (β, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.04-0.14; P < .001), whereas depressive symptoms were not associated with subsequent social media use at any interval. The final random-intercept cross-lagged panel model demonstrated a good fit (comparative fit index, 0.977; Tucker-Lewis index, 0.968; root mean square error of approximation, 0.031 [90% CI, 0.029-0.033]). Between-person differences in social media use were not associated with depressive symptoms (β, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.02; P = .46) after accounting for demographic and family-level factors. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study of 11 876 children and adolescents, reporting higher than person-level mean social media use in years 1 and 2 after baseline was associated with greater depressive symptoms in the subsequent year. The findings suggest that clinicians should provide anticipatory guidance regarding social media use for young adolescents and their parents.

66A randomized trial of online single-session interventions for adolescent depression during COVID-19.PubMed

Jessica L Schleider, Michael C Mullarkey, Kathryn R Fox, et al.
Nat Hum Behav. 2022 Feb;6(2):258-268. doi: 10.1038/s41562-021-01235-0. Epub 2021 Dec 9.
The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially increased the risk for adolescent depression. Even pre-pandemic, <50% of youth with depression accessed care, highlighting needs for accessible interventions. Accordingly, this randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04634903 ) tested online single-session interventions (SSIs) during COVID-19 in adolescents with elevated depression symptoms (N = 2,452, ages 13-16). Adolescents from all 50 US states, recruited via social media, were randomized to one of three SSIs: a behavioural activation SSI, an SSI teaching that traits are malleable and a supportive control. We tested each SSI's effects on post-intervention outcomes (hopelessness and agency) and three-month outcomes (depression, hopelessness, agency, generalized anxiety, COVID-19-related trauma and restrictive eating). Compared with the control, both active SSIs reduced three-month depressive symptoms (Cohen's d = 0.18), decreased post-intervention and three-month hopelessness (d = 0.16-0.28), increased post-intervention agency (d = 0.15-0.31) and reduced three-month restrictive eating (d = 0.12-17). Several differences between active SSIs emerged. These results confirm the utility of free-of-charge, online SSIs for high-symptom adolescents, even in the high-stress COVID-19 context.

67The effect of short-form video addiction on undergraduates’ academic procrastination: a moderated mediation modelOpenAlex

Jin Xie, Xinyu Xu, Yamei Zhang, et al.
Background Short-form videos have become one of the most popular ways for people to entertain and relax. However, the intense interest in short-form videos has given rise to short-video addiction, which poses risks to both physical and mental health of individuals. Undergraduates are one of the important users for short-form videos, and the influence of short-form video addiction calls for more attention. This study aimed to investigate the association between short-form video addiction and academic procrastination among undergraduates, exploring the role of executive functions (i.e., attentional control) and personality traits (i.e., boredom proneness) in the association. Methods Using stratified random cluster sampling method, the data of 1,047 college students were used in the study. All variables were measured by empirical instruments, and all instruments were highly reliable. Mediation and moderation analysis was conducted using Model 4 and 7 in PROCESS macro powered by SPSS. Results Results revealed that short-form video addiction not only directly impacted academic procrastination but also placed indirect effect on academic procrastination through attentional control. Furthermore, the mediating effect of attentional control was contingent upon individuals’ boredom proneness. Higher levels of boredom proneness weakened the impact of short-form video addiction on attentional control. Conclusion The findings expand our knowledge of the negative effects of short-form video addiction and the underlying mechanisms, providing implications for mitigating undergraduates’ academic procrastination.

68Influences of digital media use on children and adolescents with ADHD during COVID-19 pandemicOpenAlex

Lan Shuai, Shan He, Hong Zheng, et al.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the influences of digital media use on the core symptoms, emotional state, life events, learning motivation, executive function (EF) and family environment of children and adolescents diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHOD: A total of 192 participants aged 8-16 years who met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD were included in the study. Children scoring higher than predetermined cut-off point in self-rating questionnaires for problematic mobile phone use (SQPMPU) or Young's internet addiction test (IAT), were defined as ADHD with problematic digital media use (PDMU), otherwise were defined as ADHD without PDMU. The differences between the two groups in ADHD symptoms, EF, anxiety and depression, stress from life events, learning motivation and family environment were compared respectively. RESULTS: When compared with ADHD group without PDMU, the group with PDMU showed significant worse symptoms of inattention, oppositional defiant, behavior and emotional problems by Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP), more self-reported anxiety by screening child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED) and depression by depression self-rating scale for children (DSRSC), more severe EF deficits by behavior rating scale of executive function (BRIEF), more stress from life events by adolescent self-rating life events checklist (ASLEC), lower learning motivation by students learning motivation scale (SLMS), and more impairment on cohesion by Chinese version of family environment scale (FES-CV). The ADHD with PDMU group spent significantly more time on both video game and social media with significantly less time spend on physical exercise as compared to the ADHD without PDMU group. CONCLUSION: The ADHD children with PDMU suffered from more severe core symptoms, negative emotions, EF deficits, damage on family environment, pressure from life events, and a lower motivation to learn. Supervision of digital media usage, especially video game and social media, along with increased physical exercise, is essential to the management of core symptoms and associated problems encountered with ADHD.

69Understanding Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Narrative Review and Clinical RecommendationsOpenAlex

Tycho J. Dekkers, Jorien van Hoorn
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is consistently associated with a host of social problems, such as victimization and difficulties in maintaining close friendships. These problems are not limited to offline relations but also manifest in the online social world, as previous research shows that ADHD is associated with problematic use of social media. Given the ubiquitous nature of social media, the goal of the current review is to understand why adolescents with ADHD demonstrate more problematic social media use than their typically developing peers. To this end, we provide a narrative review on the evidence for the link between ADHD and social media use, and consequently present an integrative framework, which encompasses neurobiological mechanisms (i.e., imbalance theory of brain development and dual pathway model of ADHD) and social mechanisms, including influences from peers and parents. We conclude that empirical work shows most consistent evidence for the link between problematic social media use and ADHD (symptoms), while intensity of social media use is also associated with several other behaviors and outcomes. Finally, we hypothesize how existing interventions for ADHD may work on the identified mechanisms and provide at-hand clinical recommendations for therapists working with adolescents with ADHD who exhibit problematic social media use.

70Potential risk and protective factors related to problematic social media use among adolescents in Iran: A latent profile analysis.PubMed

Mehdi Akbari, Mohammad Hossein Bahadori, Salar Khanbabaei, et al.
Addict Behav. 2023 Nov;146:107802. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107802. Epub 2023 Jul 5.
This study aimed to assess Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) among Iranian adolescents and explore potential risk and protective factors. In the present cross-sectional study, 3375 Iranian adolescents were recruited online and completed questionnaires. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify groups with various levels of PSMU. Indicator variables included standardized factor scores for PSMU, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, sensation-seeking, internet addiction, loneliness, social anxiety, internalizing symptoms, social support and self-esteem. Five groups were identified relating to severities of PSMU and other factors: low-risk: n = 823 (24.4 %); low-to-moderate-risk: n = 835 (24.7 %); moderate-risk: n = 630 (18.7 %); moderate-to-high-risk: n = 584 (17.3 %); high-risk: n = 503 (14.9 %). Multiple factors, including sensation-seeking, internalizing symptoms, social anxiety, loneliness, internet addiction, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, low self-esteem and low perceived social support, statistically predicted PSMU. The current findings may help identify Iranian adolescents who are particularly vulnerable to PSMU and assist in intervention development.

71Sleep and use of electronic devices in adolescence: results from a large population-based studyOpenAlex

Mari Hysing, Ståle Pallesen, Kjell Morten Stormark, et al.
OBJECTIVES: Adolescents spend increasingly more time on electronic devices, and sleep deficiency rising in adolescents constitutes a major public health concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate daytime screen use and use of electronic devices before bedtime in relation to sleep. DESIGN: A large cross-sectional population-based survey study from 2012, the youth@hordaland study, in Hordaland County in Norway. SETTING: Cross-sectional general community-based study. PARTICIPANTS: 9846 adolescents from three age cohorts aged 16-19. The main independent variables were type and frequency of electronic devices at bedtime and hours of screen-time during leisure time. OUTCOMES: Sleep variables calculated based on self-report including bedtime, rise time, time in bed, sleep duration, sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset. RESULTS: Adolescents spent a large amount of time during the day and at bedtime using electronic devices. Daytime and bedtime use of electronic devices were both related to sleep measures, with an increased risk of short sleep duration, long sleep onset latency and increased sleep deficiency. A dose-response relationship emerged between sleep duration and use of electronic devices, exemplified by the association between PC use and risk of less than 5 h of sleep (OR=2.70, 95% CI 2.14 to 3.39), and comparable lower odds for 7-8 h of sleep (OR=1.64, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.96). CONCLUSIONS: Use of electronic devices is frequent in adolescence, during the day as well as at bedtime. The results demonstrate a negative relation between use of technology and sleep, suggesting that recommendations on healthy media use could include restrictions on electronic devices.

72Adolescents' interactive electronic device use, sleep and mental health: a systematic review of prospective studies.PubMed

Grace O Dibben, Anne Martin, Colin B Shore, et al.
J Sleep Res. 2023 Oct;32(5):e13899. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13899. Epub 2023 Apr 7.
Optimal sleep, both in terms of duration and quality, is important for adolescent health. However, young people's sleeping habits have worsened over recent years. Access to and use of interactive electronic devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, portable gaming devices) and social media have become deep-rooted elements of adolescents' lives and are associated with poor sleep. Additionally, there is evidence of increases in poor mental health and well-being disorders in adolescents; further linked to poor sleep. This review aimed to summarise the longitudinal and experimental evidence of the impact of device use on adolescents' sleep and subsequent mental health. Nine electronic bibliographical databases were searched for this narrative systematic review in October 2022. Of 5779 identified unique records, 28 studies were selected for inclusion. A total of 26 studies examined the direct link between device use and sleep outcomes, and four reported the indirect link between device use and mental health, with sleep as a mediator. The methodological quality of the studies was generally poor. Results demonstrated that adverse implications of device use (i.e., overuse, problematic use, telepressure, and cyber-victimisation) impacted sleep quality and duration; however, relationships with other types of device use were unclear. A small but consistent body of evidence showed sleep mediates the relationship between device use and mental health and well-being in adolescents. Increasing our understanding of the complexities of device use, sleep, and mental health in adolescents are important contributions to the development of future interventions and guidelines to prevent or increase resilience to cyber-bullying and ensure adequate sleep.

73The impact of screen use on sleep health across the lifespan: A National Sleep Foundation consensus statement.PubMed

Lauren E Hartstein, Gina Marie Mathew, David A Reichenberger, et al.
Sleep Health. 2024 Aug;10(4):373-384. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2024.05.001. Epub 2024 May 28.
OBJECTIVE: To achieve consensus on whether screen-based digital media (1) in general, (2) via prebedtime content, and (3) via prebedtime light impairs sleep health in (a) childhood, (b) adolescence, and (c) adulthood. Furthermore, to address whether employing behavioral strategies and interventions may reduce the potential negative effects of screens on sleep health. METHODS: The National Sleep Foundation convened a 16-person multidisciplinary expert panel ("Panel"). Panelists met virtually 5 times throughout 2023, during which they followed a modified Delphi RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method to reach consensus. RESULTS: The Panel conducted a literature review starting with 2209 articles, narrowed down to 522 relevant empirical articles and 52 relevant review articles. The search was refined to include 35 experimental/intervention studies that examined whether there was a causal link between screen-based digital media and sleep. In addition, panelists reviewed 5 recent relevant systematic review articles. After reviewing the summarized current literature, panelists voted on 10 candidate statements about whether screen use impairs sleep health. The Panel met virtually to discuss the results of the first round of votes, which was then followed by a second round of voting, ultimately achieving consensus on 5 out of the 10 statements. CONCLUSIONS: The Panel achieved consensus that (1) in general, screen use impairs sleep health among children and adolescents, (2) the content of screen use before sleep impairs sleep health of children and adolescents, and (3) behavioral strategies and interventions may attenuate the negative effects of screen use on sleep health.

74Longitudinal associations between digital media use and ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents: a systematic literature reviewOpenAlex

Lisa B. Thorell, Jonas Burén, Johanna Ström Wiman, et al.
Previous reviews have often shown a link between digital media ADHD symptom levels. However, longitudinal studies are needed to find stronger evidence of a causal effect as well as to determine the direction of effects. The aim of the present review (PROSPERO CRD42021262695) was therefore to provide a systematic review of studies meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) include longitudinal data investigating associations between digital media (i.e., gaming and social media) and later ADHD symptoms or vice versa, (2) be published within the past 10 years (i.e., 2011 until June 2021), (3) be published in a peer-reviewed journal in English, and (4) include children or adolescents (age 0-17 years). After a systematic search in the Web of Science and PsycInfo databases, we included 28 studies, all with adequate or high quality. Results showed support for reciprocal associations between digital media and ADHD symptoms, with associations being more consistent for problematic use of digital media than for screen time. Thus, children with ADHD symptoms appear more vulnerable to developing high or problematic use of digital media (i.e., selection effects), and digital media also have effects on later ADHD symptom levels, either because of specific characteristics of digital media or because of indirect effects on, for example, sleep and social relations (i.e., media effects). However, it should be emphasized that further studies investigating potential moderators and mediators are needed if we are to better understand the complex associations between digital media and ADHD symptom levels.

75Screen use before sleep and emotional problems among adolescents: Preliminary evidence of mediating effect of chronotype and social jetlagOpenAlex

Lei Yue, Naixue Cui, Naixue Cui, et al.

76Digital Sleep Disruption: Unraveling the Network Structure of Technology Use and Sleep Problems Through Network Analysis.PubMed

Haoqing Gan, Lingjia Xu, Chenglin Tong
CNS Neurosci Ther. 2026 Feb;32(2):e70778. doi: 10.1002/cns.70778.
BACKGROUND: Sleep problems have emerged as a critical health concern in the digital age, yet the complex mechanisms linking technology use to sleep disruption remain poorly understood. Previous research has typically examined isolated relationships between specific technological behaviors and sleep outcomes, overlooking the complex interplay among various digital factors. This study aims to address this gap by employing network analysis to investigate the interconnected relationships among multiple technology-related factors and their collective influence on sleep problems. METHODS: Using network analysis, this study examined how different aspects of digital technology use collectively influence sleep problems in a large sample of Chinese adults (N = 9443). Participants were recruited through stratified random sampling based on age groups and geographical regions, with the sample size determined a priori using Monte Carlo simulations to ensure stable network estimation. Participants completed validated measures assessing screen time, before-bed electronic device use, electronic device dependency, social media anxiety, digital information overload, virtual social pressure, blue light exposure, circadian rhythm disruption, online gaming addiction, work-life digital integration, and sleep problems. Participants with diagnosed sleep disorders, those engaged in shift work, or those who had traveled across time zones in the past month were excluded to minimize confounding effects on natural sleep patterns. RESULTS: Network analysis revealed complex interconnections among technology-related factors and sleep problems. Blue light exposure demonstrated the strongest direct edge weight with sleep problems (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), followed by circadian rhythm disturbance (r = 0.26, p < 0.001). The network structure indicated that screen time, bedtime device use, electronic device dependence, virtual social pressure, and work-life digital integration showed weaker direct associations with sleep problems but demonstrated substantial indirect pathways through intermediate variables. Online gaming addiction, digital information overload, social media anxiety, and circadian rhythm disturbance exhibited moderate centrality indices, suggesting their role as potential mediators within the network. CONCLUSIONS: These findings advance our understanding of technology-induced sleep disruption and suggest potential targets for intervention. The network approach reveals that addressing sleep problems in the digital age requires consideration of both direct physiological impacts and indirect psychological pathways. The identification of specific factors with high centrality provides empirical guidance for developing targeted intervention strategies.

77Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students.PubMed

Yi-Ching Lin, Po-Ching Huang
Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025 Feb;252:104674. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104674. Epub 2024 Dec 19.
This study investigates the relationship between maladaptive digital technology use, which arises from nomophobia, and insomnia among young adults. It specifically focuses on problematic gaming (PG), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic YouTube use (PYTU) as significant forms of digital behavior contributing to this contemporary health concern. Adolescents and young adults, being the first generation raised in a highly digitized environment, encounter unique challenges, including the emergence of behavioral addictions. Our findings indicate a strong association between nomophobia and problematic digital behaviors, with PSMU identified as the most prevalent form of maladaptive use. Additionally, PG and PSMU are recognized as substantial contributors to the development of nomophobia. The interaction of cognitive overstimulation, emotional dysregulation, blue light exposure, time displacement, and reward-driven dependency on these digital platforms promotes compulsive behaviors, which subsequently lead to the onset of insomnia. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study illustrates that nomophobia precipitates problematic digital behavior, which in turn results in sleep disturbances, thereby elucidating a clear pathway from digital dependency to insomnia. The limitations of this study include its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce potential biases. Despite these limitations, our findings underscore the critical role of nomophobia in triggering insomnia through various maladaptive digital behaviors. This highlights the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies aimed at fostering healthier digital habits and alleviating the adverse health effects of excessive technology use, ultimately enhancing well-being in an increasingly interconnected society.

78The consequences of media multitasking for youth: A reviewOpenAlex

Winneke A. van der Schuur, Susanne E. Baumgartner, Sindy R. Sumter, et al.

79The Longitudinal Impact of Social Media Use on UK Adolescents' Mental Health: Longitudinal Observational Study.PubMed

Ruth Plackett, Jessica Sheringham, Jennifer Dykxhoorn
J Med Internet Res. 2023 Mar 24;25:e43213. doi: 10.2196/43213.
BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have found a relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety in young people. However, few longitudinal studies using representative data and mediation analysis have been conducted to understand the causal pathways of this relationship. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the longitudinal relationship between social media use and young people's mental health and the role of self-esteem and social connectedness as potential mediators. METHODS: The sample included 3228 participants who were 10- to 15-year-olds from Understanding Society (2009-2019), a UK longitudinal household survey. The number of hours spent on social media was measured on a 5-point scale from "none" to "7 or more hours" at the ages of 12-13 years. Self-esteem and social connectedness (number of friends and happiness with friendships) were measured at the ages of 13-14 years. Mental health problems measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were assessed at the ages of 14-15 years. Covariates included demographic and household variables. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the association between social media use and mental health. We used path analysis with structural equation modeling to investigate the mediation pathways. RESULTS: In adjusted analysis, there was a nonsignificant linear trend showing that more time spent on social media was related to poorer mental health 2 years later (n=2603, β=.21, 95% CI −0.43 to 0.84; P=.52). In an unadjusted path analysis, 68% of the effect of social media use on mental health was mediated by self-esteem (indirect effect, n=2569, β=.70, 95% CI 0.15-1.30; P=.02). This effect was attenuated in the adjusted analysis, and it was found that self-esteem was no longer a significant mediator (indirect effect, n=2316, β=.24, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.66; P=.22). We did not find evidence that the association between social media and mental health was mediated by social connectedness. Similar results were found in imputed data. CONCLUSIONS: There was little evidence to suggest that more time spent on social media was associated with later mental health problems in UK adolescents. This study shows the importance of longitudinal studies to examine this relationship and suggests that prevention strategies and interventions to improve mental health associated with social media use could consider the role of factors like self-esteem.

80Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth.PubMed

Kira E Riehm, Kenneth A Feder, Kayla N Tormohlen, et al.
JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Dec 1;76(12):1266-1273. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325.
IMPORTANCE: Social media use may be a risk factor for mental health problems in adolescents. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated this association, and none have quantified the proportion of mental health problems among adolescents attributable to social media use. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether time spent using social media per day is prospectively associated with internalizing and externalizing problems among adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This longitudinal cohort study of 6595 participants from waves 1 (September 12, 2013, to December 14, 2014), 2 (October 23, 2014, to October 30, 2015), and 3 (October 18, 2015, to October 23, 2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, a nationally representative cohort study of US adolescents, assessed US adolescents via household interviews using audio computer-assisted self-interviewing. Data analysis was performed from January 14, 2019, to May 22, 2019. EXPOSURES: Self-reported time spent on social media during a typical day (none, ≤30 minutes, >30 minutes to ≤3 hours, >3 hours to ≤6 hours, and >6 hours) during wave 2. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURE: Self-reported past-year internalizing problems alone, externalizing problems alone, and comorbid internalizing and externalizing problems during wave 3 using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-Short Screener. RESULTS: A total of 6595 adolescents (aged 12-15 years during wave 1; 3400 [51.3%] male) were studied. In unadjusted analyses, spending more than 30 minutes of time on social media, compared with no use, was associated with increased risk of internalizing problems alone (≤30 minutes: relative risk ratio [RRR], 1.30; 95% CI, 0.94-1.78; >30 minutes to ≤3 hours: RRR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.36-2.64; >3 to ≤6 hours: RRR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.74-3.49; >6 hours: RRR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.88-4.26) and comorbid internalizing and externalizing problems (≤30 minutes: RRR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.06-1.82; >30 minutes to ≤3 hours: RRR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.83-3.00; >3 to ≤6 hours: RRR, 3.15; 95% CI, 2.43-4.09; >6 hours: RRR, 4.29; 95% CI, 3.22-5.73); associations with externalizing problems were inconsistent. In adjusted analyses, use of social media for more than 3 hours per day compared with no use remained significantly associated with internalizing problems alone (>3 to ≤6 hours: RRR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.11-2.31; >6 hours: RRR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.15-2.77) and comorbid internalizing and externalizing problems (>3 to ≤6 hours: RRR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.51-2.66; >6 hours: RRR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.73-3.43) but not externalizing problems alone. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Adolescents who spend more than 3 hours per day using social media may be at heightened risk for mental health problems, particularly internalizing problems. Future research should determine whether setting limits on daily social media use, increasing media literacy, and redesigning social media platforms are effective means of reducing the burden of mental health problems in this population.

81Social Media and Youth Mental Health.PubMed

Paul E Weigle, Reem M A Shafi
Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2024 Jan;26(1):1-8. doi: 10.1007/s11920-023-01478-w. Epub 2023 Dec 16.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review recent evidence regarding the relationship between the social media (SM) habits, experiences, and the mental health of youth. We examine effects of social media use (SMU) on specific diagnoses including depression and anxiety. The relationship between psychiatric illness, specific SM experiences, and the issue of SM mental health contagion is also explored. RECENT FINDINGS: Youth engagement in SMU has increased dramatically in recent years, concurrent with increases in prevalence of depression and anxiety. The relationship between SMU and mental illness is complex and depends on characteristics of the user (e.g., social comparison and fear of missing out (FOMO) and their SM habits and experiences (e.g., cyberbullying, and sexting,). SM engagement has distinct impacts on anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Growing evidence documents how SM may be a medium for psychiatric contagion. Research findings are largely correlational and dependent on subjective report, limiting their interpretation. The mental health of youth is increasingly tied to their SMU, depending greatly on how youth engage with SM and resultant feedback. Future research must look to establish causality in relationships between SM and mental illness.

82Adolescent Paranoia: Prevalence, Structure, and Causal Mechanisms.PubMed

Jessica C Bird, Robin Evans, Felicity Waite, et al.
Schizophr Bull. 2019 Sep 11;45(5):1134-1142. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sby180.
BACKGROUND: Adolescence can be a challenging time, characterized by self-consciousness, heightened regard for peer acceptance, and fear of rejection. Interpersonal concerns are amplified by unpredictable social interactions, both online and offline. This developmental and social context is potentially conducive to the emergence of paranoia. However, research on paranoia during adolescence is scarce. METHOD: Our aim was to examine the prevalence, structure, and probabilistic causal mechanisms of adolescent paranoia. A representative school cohort of 801 adolescents (11-15 y) completed measures of paranoia and a range of affective, cognitive, and social factors. A Bayesian approach with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) was used to assess the causal interactions with paranoia. RESULTS: Paranoid thoughts were very common, followed a continuous distribution, and were hierarchically structured. There was an overall paranoia factor, with sub-factors of social fears, physical threat fears, and conspiracy concerns. With all other variables controlled, DAG analysis identified paranoia had dependent relationships with negative affect, peer difficulties, bullying, and cognitive-affective responses to social media. The causal directions could not be fully determined, but it was more likely that negative affect contributed to paranoia and paranoia impacted peer relationships. Problematic social media use did not causally influence paranoia. CONCLUSIONS: There is a continuum of paranoia in adolescence and occasional suspicions are common at this age. Anxiety and depression are closely connected with paranoia and may causally contribute to its development. Paranoia may negatively impact adolescent peer relationships. The clinical significance of paranoia in adolescents accessing mental health services must now be established.

83Social media and body image in young women: A meta-analysis of experimental studies on video- versus image-based platforms.PubMed

Yu Zhang, Sihan Xiong, Nisha Yao, et al.
Body Image. 2025 Dec;55:101991. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101991. Epub 2025 Oct 28.
Social media exposes young women to body-related content that can influence how they perceive their bodies. Given its broad influence, understanding when and how such exposure harms or improves body image is essential for supporting mental health. This meta-analysis synthesized experimental evidence to examine the causal effects of two types of content: body-ideal content promoting beauty standards and body-positive content encouraging acceptance. We also tested whether platform modality (image-based platforms such as Instagram vs. video-based platforms such as TikTok) moderated these effects. The analysis included 20 experimental studies involving 3603 young female participants. Exposure to body-positive content significantly improved body satisfaction (Cohen's d = 0.20, p < .001), whereas exposure to body-ideal content significantly decreased it (Cohen's d = -0.29, p < .001). Notably, video-based platforms intensified the negative effect: TikTok body-ideal content produced larger declines (d = -0.45) than Instagram image body-ideal content (d = -0.25). For body-positive content, effect sizes were similar across platforms (d = 0.21 vs. d = 0.20), although the number of available studies was limited. These findings provide causal evidence for the effects of social media exposure on body image and highlight platform modality as an important moderator. Body-positive content appears promising for digital interventions to promote body satisfaction, while the particularly harmful impact of body-ideal videos underscores the need to reduce exposure to such content in video-based environments.

84Positive and negative uses of social media among adolescents hospitalized for suicidal behavior.PubMed

Emily Weinstein, Evan M Kleiman, Peter J Franz, et al.
J Adolesc. 2021 Feb;87:63-73. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.12.003. Epub 2021 Jan 22.
INTRODUCTION: There is public concern about potential associations between adolescent social media/smartphone use and risk for suicide. However, no prior studies leverage qualitative methods to explore the experiences of adolescents currently at-risk for suicide. METHODS: This study examined social technology use from the perspectives of adolescents (n = 30; Mage = 16.1 years) currently hospitalized for a recent suicide attempt or severe ideation. We conducted in-depth interviews and coded transcripts using thematic analysis. We had three research questions: What (1) negative and (2) positive experiences do suicidal adolescents report related to their use of social media/smartphones? (3) How do adolescents describe their disconnection from these technologies use during inpatient hospitalization and views on a subsequent return to digital connectivity after discharge? RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results reveal both positive and negative social technology uses, with most participants reporting mixed (positive and negative) experiences. Negatives/risks included trouble regulating use, stress related to social media metrics, encounters with "triggering" content, hostility and meanness, self-denigrating comparisons, and burdensome friendship expectations. Positives/benefits included social connection, social support, affect-enhancing content, shared interests, and resources for mental health and coping. Overall, the documented risks and benefits of social technology use correspond with established (offline) risk and protective factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Participants generally valued the break from social technologies during hospitalization, and also viewed them as integral to social re-entry and identified related concerns. Future studies should test well-being focused 'digital hygiene' interventions for maximizing potential benefits and minimizing potential harms of social technologies for at-risk adolescents.

85Online peer-led intervention to improve adolescent wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomised controlled trial.PubMed

Gabriela Pavarini, Tessa Reardon, Geoffrey Mawdsley, et al.
Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2024 Mar 18;18(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s13034-024-00723-1.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have posed a major risk to young people's wellbeing, which might be ameliorated by peer-led programmes. Using a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN77941736 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN77941736 ), we tested the short-term efficacy of an online peer-led intervention designed to equip young people with skills to support their mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Through schools and social media ads, we recruited one hundred young people (aged 16-18) in the UK, focusing on areas with the highest incidence of COVID cases. In December 2020, participants were randomly allocated (1:1) to immediate 5 day Coping during COVID course (n = 49) or a wait-list (n = 51) through a survey software automated randomisation tool. Our primary outcome was self-reported mental wellbeing, and secondary outcomes included self-reported social connectedness, coping skills, sense of purpose, self-esteem, and self-compassion. We also collected qualitative reports of participants' perceived impact of the course and intentions to use what they have learnt from the course in their life moving forward. Assessments were completed at baseline, 1 week post randomisation (primary endpoint), and 2-weeks post-randomisation. RESULTS: Young people allocated to the peer-led intervention reported significantly greater wellbeing, social connectedness, coping skills, sense of purpose, self-esteem, and self-compassion 1 week and 2 weeks post-randomisation (medium-large effect sizes). Specific benefits to mental health, sense of purpose and connectedness were also emphasised in qualitative reports. CONCLUSIONS: An online, peer-led intervention targeting youth wellbeing during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic brought benefits across a range of outcomes, suggesting that structured programmes that incorporate peer-to-peer support can be a valuable approach to promote young people's wellbeing and foster psychological resources during a health crisis.

86Social media use and emerging mental health issues.PubMed

Antonio Ventriglio, Fabiana Ricci, Julio Torales, et al.
Ind Psychiatry J. 2024 Aug;33(Suppl 1):S261-S264. doi: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_45_24. Epub 2024 May 23.
Since its inception, social media has brought about numerous benefits, including higher levels of social connectedness, potential positive interactions, and greater access to information. Nonetheless, the excessive use of social media can lead to negative health outcomes, such as social anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, reduced sleep quality, and higher perceived stress. It has been argued that boredom and loneliness may be mediating factors between social media misuse and negative mental health effects, above all among youth and adolescents. Likewise, exposure to graphic imagery or misinformation on social media may also have deleterious implications for mental health. Taken together, this suggests a need for targeted studies on the relationship between social media and mental health, as well as the development of educational interventions for adolescents to share knowledge about the safe use of such tools. Mental health professionals should be adequately trained in identifying risk factors and treating the negative health outcomes that may result from social media. Specific strategies and guidelines should be adopted by social media companies aligned with international evidence from health agencies and experts in e-mental health.

87Time Out: A Scoping Review of Non-Duration Based Social Media Use Measures and Adolescent Mental Health.PubMed

Amanda M Sursely, Bengi Baran, Gerta Bardhoshi, et al.
J Adolesc. 2026 Apr;98(3):659-677. doi: 10.1002/jad.70088. Epub 2025 Dec 19.
INTRODUCTION: Research to understand the role of social media use (SMU) in explaining deteriorating adolescent mental health has been limited by broad, nonspecific measures of social media use, specifically 'time spent on social media'. These measures provide insufficient detail to capture specific risk and protective factors to users. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of observational and experimental studies of the relationship between non-duration-based SMU measures and mental health outcomes in adolescents ≤ 18 years old. Studies that measured SMU solely based on time spent on a platform were excluded. RESULTS: The initial search returned 868 articles. After inclusion and exclusion, we identified 217 studies, but among them 133 (61%) used duration-based SMU measures and were excluded. Of the 84 remaining studies, most focused on depression (48%), or anxiety (23%), though nine total mental health domains were included. Studies used 85 distinct measures of SMU, and fewer than half (n = 37; 45%) provided evidence of validity. SMU measures were grouped into five domains, including SMU habits, addiction-like measures, structural aspects, interactions on SM, and feelings about SM. Social comparison and addiction-related measures were consistently linked with poor mental health. SMU for socialization was consistently associated with decreased loneliness. Evidence of protective associations were otherwise limited. CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to a more complete understanding of specific types of SMU that contribute to adolescent mental health. This specificity may help to identify modifiable targets for use in prevention programs and policy development for social media regulation.

88Outcomes of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of the SoMe Social Media Literacy Program for Improving Body Image-Related Outcomes in Adolescent Boys and Girls.PubMed

Chloe S Gordon, Hannah K Jarman, Rachel F Rodgers, et al.
Nutrients. 2021 Oct 27;13(11):3825. doi: 10.3390/nu13113825.
Although the negative effect of social media use among youth on body image and eating concerns has been established, few classroom-based resources that can decrease these effects through targeting social media literacy skills have been developed. This study aimed to test the efficacy of SoMe, a social media literacy body image, dieting, and wellbeing program for adolescents, through a cluster randomized controlled trial. Participants ( = 892; M = 12.77, = 0.74; range 11-15; 49.5% male) were randomized by school ( 8) to receive either weekly SoMe ( = 483) or control sessions (lessons as usual; 409) over 4 weeks in their classroom. Participants completed surveys at four timepoints (baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and 6- and 12-month follow-up) assessing body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, strategies to increase muscles (primary outcomes), self-esteem and depressive symptoms (secondary outcomes), and internalization of appearance ideals and appearance comparison (exploratory outcomes). Modest positive intervention effects were found in dietary restraint and depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up in girls but few positive effects emerged for boys. The findings provide only preliminary support for a social media literacy intervention, but suggest the usefulness of both identifying those who benefit most from a universally delivered intervention and the need to refine the intervention to maximize intervention effects.

89Effect of a Family Media Use Plan on Media Rule Engagement Among Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial.PubMed

Megan A Moreno, Kole S Binger, Qianqian Zhao, et al.
JAMA Pediatr. 2021 Apr 1;175(4):351-358. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5629.
IMPORTANCE: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all families use a family media use plan to select and engage with media rules. To date, the effectiveness of this tool in promoting adolescent media rule engagement is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of a family media use plan on media rule engagement in adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This randomized clinical trial with parallel design used the online Qualtrics platform for recruitment, data collection, and intervention delivery. Parents and their children (aged 12 to 17 years) who spoke and read in the English language were recruited, enrolled, and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Parent-adolescent dyads in both groups completed baseline surveys individually, and the dyads in the intervention group completed the family media use plan survey. Baseline recruitment was conducted from April 8, 2019, to May 1, 2019, and follow-up surveys were completed between June 11, 2019, and July 2, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: The American Academy of Pediatrics family media use plan. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was media rule engagement reported by adolescents. Media rules were extracted from the family media use plan, and adolescents rated each rule (using Likert scales) according to whether the rule was present or followed in their home. Secondary outcomes were adolescent-perceived technology importance and changes in sleep, physical activity, and depression. RESULTS: A total of 1520 parent-adolescent dyads were enrolled in the trial and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Adolescents had a mean (SD) age of 14.5 (1.6) years, and 789 were female (51.9%) and 1027 were White (67.6%) individuals. Parents had a mean (SD) age of 44.1 (8.5) years, and 995 were women (65.5%) and 1021 were White individuals (67.2%). For media rule engagement, the between-group difference was -0.1 (95% CI, -1.1 to 0.9). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This randomized clinical trial found that completing a family media use plan did not lead to statistically significant changes in media rule engagement for adolescents in the intervention group. Future studies should consider revising the family media use plan and exploring the importance of technology as an intervention outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03881397.

90Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st CenturyOpenAlex

Henry Jenkins
Henry Jenkins, Director of the Comparative Media Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology authored this white paper, exploring new frameworks and models for media literacy.

91Evaluation of a school-based violence prevention media literacy curriculumOpenAlex

Kathryn R. Fingar, Tessa Jolls
PURPOSE: Evaluate whether Beyond Blame, a violence prevention media literacy curriculum, is associated with improved knowledge, beliefs and behaviours related to media use and aggression. METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design, from 2007 to 2008, teachers from schools across Southern California administered the curriculum with or without training or served as controls. Students were tested before and after the curriculum was implemented, and during the fall semester of the next academic year. Multivariate hierarchical regression was used to compare changes from baseline to follow-up between the intervention and control groups. RESULTS: Compared with controls, at the first post-test, students in the trained and untrained groups reported increased knowledge of five core concepts/key questions of media literacy, increased self-rated exposure to media violence, as well as stronger beliefs that media violence affects viewers and that people can protect themselves by watching less. Regarding behaviours, controls were more likely to report ≥8 h of media consumption at the second post-test than at baseline (OR=2.11; 95% CI 1.13 to 3.97), pushing or shoving another student (OR=2.16; 95% CI 1.16 to 4.02) and threatening to hit or hurt someone (OR=2.32; 95% CI 1.13 to 4.78). In comparison, there was no increase in these behaviours in the trained and untrained groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests media literacy can be feasibly integrated into schools as an approach to improving critical analysis of media, media consumption and aggression. Changing the way youth engage media may impact many aspects of health, and an important next step will be to apply this framework to other topics.

92Analyzing the Mechanisms by Which Digital Platforms Influence Family-School Partnerships among Parents of Young ChildrenOpenAlex

Pi-Chun Hsu, Ru-Si Chen
This research delved into the correlation between digital platforms and the dynamics of family-school collaboration within the context of parents with young children in Taiwan. It also examined the roles of parental involvement, teacher-child interactions, and online communication in this model. In the context of Taiwan, a research endeavor was undertaken to elucidate the viewpoints of parents with preschool-age children concerning digital platforms and their associated determinants. A Chinese-translated questionnaire included five latent factors: digital platforms, parental involvement, teacher-child interactions, online communication, and family-school partnerships. Employing a partial least-squares technique, we conducted an in-depth examination of the survey data, focusing on the evaluation of questionnaire latent factor reliability and validity within the measurement model. Subsequently, a path analysis was conducted to examine the hypothesized assumptions in the structural model. The findings indicated significant positive effects, with digital platforms enhancing parental involvement, teacher-child interactions, and online communication, ultimately leading to stronger family-school partnerships. Statistical analyses using a robust dataset consistently confirmed the significance of these associations.

93An Ecological, Participatory, Integral and Contextualized Model (EPIC Model) of Family-School Connection: A Preliminary AnalysisOpenAlex

Mahía Saracostti, José Antonio Lozano-Lozano, Horacio Miranda, et al.
= 0.99), during 2019. The results show that the EPIC Family-School Collaboration Model has a positive and significant influence on the level of home-based involvement, memory and attention and intrapersonal skills in the first cycle of elementary education.

94Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents: An Integrative Review Based on the Behavior Change Approach.PubMed

Sun Hwa Hong, Tae Kyung Chun, You Jin Nam, et al.
Children (Basel). 2025 Jun 13;12(6):770. doi: 10.3390/children12060770.
Adolescents are at a critical developmental stage marked by rapid cognitive, emotional, and social changes, making them highly susceptible to mental health issues. Recently, digital health interventions (DHIs) have emerged as innovative and scalable tools for promoting mental well-being in this population. This integrative review was conducted based on comprehensive literature searches of major academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Studies published between January 2010 and December 2024 were identified using keywords such as "adolescent mental health," "digital health intervention," "behavior change model," "e-health," "mobile mental health," and "digital therapeutics." The inclusion criteria comprised peer-reviewed studies on digital mental health interventions for adolescents that applied, fully or partially, a behavior change approach. Studies targeting adults, interventions without digital technology, the gray literature, and duplicate publications were excluded. We examined intervention strategies based on developmental stage prevention, early intervention, and recovery and highlighted key digital components such as accessibility, anonymity, personalization, and continuous monitoring. Furthermore, we analyzed case studies from various countries, including Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, to identify best practices and contextual challenges. DHIs rooted in sound psychological theory and ethical design can complement school- and community-based interventions by offering effective personalized support. The practical implications and future directions are discussed.

95Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Parental Involvement in Inclusive EducationOpenAlex

Mizyed Hyassat, Asem Mohammed Al-Bakar, Ahmad Al-Makahleh, et al.
(1) Background: It is widely agreed that mutual partnerships between school staff and parents of students are key to creating robust frameworks of inclusive education for students with disabilities. This study explores special education teachers’ perceptions of involving parents of students with disabilities in mainstream schools in Jordan. (2) Methods: This research employs a descriptive quantitative method in the form of a Google-Forms-based online questionnaire with closed-ended questions. (3) Results: The findings indicate that parents were moderately involved in the education of their disabled children; that these parents perceived teachers and school principal to be instrumental in encouraging their involvement in this respect; and that parents face many obstacles to such involvement in their children’s education. (4) Conclusions: The findings point to a need for policymakers to create legislation that enables and mandates the involvement of parents with children with disabilities in inclusive education settings in order to implement constructive models of parental involvement where parents can be treated as equal partners in the educational process.

96Editorial: Child Protection in the Digital AgeOpenAlex

Wing Hong Chui, Yuhong Zhu, Qiqi Chen
The digital age has erased traditional jurisdictional lines, making it clear that a collaborative effort from technology platforms, governments, guardians and children themselves is necessary to create a digital ecosystem that is safe for children. In an era when digital landscapes are ever-expanding and evolving, our children are becoming citizens of limitless virtual boundaries. As we stand at the crossroads of innovation, privacy, connectivity and exploitation, this special issue endeavours to dissect the multifaceted challenges that children face online. In this digital era, protecting children and promoting their well-being has become a challenge for governments, communities and practitioners. This special issue, ‘Child Protection in the Digital Age’, is more than a collection of scholarly articles; it is a clarion call to action, a detailed map charting the complexities of a terrain fraught with both promise and peril for the youngest members of our society. It aims to capture the broad lessons emerging from the research so that cross-country scholars can expand upon knowledge exchange and capacity building. Our contributors, comprising a diverse mix of researchers, practitioners and educators around the world, offer valuable insights into the current state of child protection in the digital realm. The contributions herein address a spectrum of topics, including cyberbullying, online predators, data privacy and digital footprints. They provide evidence-based strategies for safeguarding children, promoting digital literacy and cultivating a safe online environment where children can thrive. Additionally, implications for policy development are discussed, emphasizing the need for all stakeholders involved to play their part in realizing the benefits that the digital age has to offer. Two recent studies shed light on the complex dynamics between children's technology use and their overall life satisfaction, as well as the subtleties of parent–child communication in the context of pervasive Internet access. Topić, Brkljačić, and Brajša-Žganec (2023) delve into how digital technology use and preoccupation with devices might predict life satisfaction in children; their study ‘Digital technology use and preoccupation with digital technology as predictors of life satisfaction in children’ underscores a paradox that has long puzzled educators and parents alike. It demonstrates that although technology use can provide educational resources and social connections vital for child development, an overemphasis on digital engagement can detract from life satisfaction. This delicate balance suggests that not all screen time is created equal: The content, context and communication potential of digital activities are critical factors in determining their impact. Switching gears to the familial aspect, Nguyen et al. (2024) take us into the homes of Vietnamese urban families in their study ‘Internet impacts on parent-child communication in Vietnamese urban families’. This research explores the impacts of the Internet on parent–child interactions, revealing that although the Internet offers new avenues for communication and shared digital experiences, it also presents potential barriers to face-to-face interactions, possibly eroding traditional family bonds. Both studies implicitly call for a proactive approach to digital literacy, where children are taught to navigate the online world with discernment, balancing their digital lives with offline activities that promote well-being. Upon synthesizing insights from these pivotal studies, it becomes evident that there is a pressing need to nurture digital well-being for the next generation. This involves guiding children to recognize when technology use may be encroaching on their sense of happiness and satisfaction with life. Moreover, as Vietnamese urban families illustrate, the adaptation to a ‘new normal’ where the Internet is interwoven into the fabric of daily life requires cultural sensitivity and a willingness to evolve. Maintaining open lines of communication about technology's place in the family, and embracing its positive aspects while mitigating its downsides, is key. The scourge of bullying remains a persistent challenge in schools across the globe, manifesting in both the physical and digital realms. Four compelling studies from different cultural contexts—rural China, urban Hong Kong, Turkey and Spain—provide a multifaceted perspective on the nature of cyberbullying, its correlates and the coping strategies employed by young people while also offering targeted insights into how we might address this multifaceted problem. The first study (Liu and Li, 2023) takes us into the heart of rural China, where the dynamics of parental attachment, peer relationships, school connectedness and Internet usage shape bullying behaviours among adolescents. With over 2200 students surveyed, the alarmingly high rates of bullying and victimization underscore the urgent need for comprehensive prevention systems that emphasize family–school collaboration and the wise guidance of Internet use. The findings emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions that enhance healthy relationships and digital literacy in less urbanized areas. Moving to Hong Kong, a study (Chen et al. 2023) involving over 5500 children adds another layer to our understanding by examining the overlap of online and offline violence, including sibling violence, school bullying and exposure to family violence. The study highlights the interconnected nature of different types of victimization, emphasizing the need for interventions that address not only specific instances of bullying but also the broader ecosystem of violence that children may be exposed to. The finding that higher parental education levels and frequent family residential mobility are associated with an increased risk of victimization underscores the importance of adopting a nuanced approach to prevention that considers these less intuitive factors. In Spain, research (Escortell et al. 2023) focusing on primary education students offers a unique perspective by creating profiles of cyberbullying involvement based on self-concept and academic goals. This study enables a more personalized approach to intervention. Significantly, the study emphasizes the importance of bolstering children's self-concepts and fostering their learning aspirations as protective factors against cyberbullying. Finally, the fourth study (Hendekci, Albayrak, and Şimşek, 2023) examines the heightened risks of cyber victimization in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic and the coping strategies adopted by adolescents. With the pandemic driving unprecedented levels of screen time, this research provides crucial insights into how young people navigate online adversity, emphasizing the importance of resilience and the role of parents, educators and peers in supporting effective coping mechanisms. The collective findings of these studies highlight that bullying is not simply a series of isolated incidents but a complex phenomenon influenced by various interconnected factors, including family dynamics, school environment, self-perception and societal changes (Chui and Wong 2017). Effective interventions need to adopt a multifaceted approach that is culturally sensitive and responsive to the specific needs of different student profiles. Moreover, the researches call for a proactive stance in creating positive school climates, fostering strong family–school partnerships and providing guidance on responsible Internet use (Livingstone and Bulger 2014). It also underscores the significance of considering the broader context of a child's life, including negative family dynamics and the potential for residential mobility, which may contribute to a sense of instability and vulnerability (Zhu, Chan, and Chen 2018). As we translate these findings into action, it becomes evident that our approach to bullying prevention must consider the interconnected nature of the problem itself. We need to work collaboratively across disciplines, cultural boundaries and educational systems to develop strategies that are evidence based and empathetic to the lived experiences of students. In the digital age, the Internet offers unparalleled access to knowledge and connection. However, it also exposes young users to various risks, such as online sexual solicitation and substance-related marketing. Two recent studies shed light on these perils by respectively examining the complex dynamics of disclosure and the influence of adolescent digital privacy attitudes, which are moderated by parenting behaviours. The first study (Gemara, Mishna, and Katz, 2023), delves into the distressing realm of child online sexual solicitation. Drawing from forensic interviews with Israeli children, the study underscores the significant role peers play in the disclosure process. It also reveals the obstacles children face in discussing these incidents with their parents. The research uncovers a stark reality: children prefer to confide in their peers rather than their parents when encountering online dangers. This preference is shaped by factors related to sexuality, technology, and anticipated responses from those to whom they disclose such information. The implications of these findings are profound, underscoring the urgent need for effective communication channels between children and trusted adults. Furthermore, educational programs that address the complexities of online sexual behaviours are imperative. The second study (Corcoran et al., 2023) shifts focus on the impact of adolescent exposure to substance-related marketing and its potential to induce substance use. This research illuminates how screen time acts as a gateway to such exposure and is intertwined with young people's perceptions of digital privacy. Notably, the study identifies ‘TECH parenting’ as a potent moderating factor. This approach encompasses open communication with children, educating them, engaging in shared media use and setting household rules. Adopting this approach not only enhances adolescents' understanding of privacy concerns but also lowers the likelihood of exposure to online substance-related marketing. The digital age offers unprecedented opportunities for our children, but it also requires us to be vigilant guardians of their well-being. The risks and harm that many children already face offline can be extended and amplified online, making children who are already vulnerable even more fragile (Keeley and Little 2017). These studies collectively provide a sobering glimpse into how the digital landscape influences youth behaviour and well-being. It is imperative to cultivate an environment where children feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues with adults. This necessitates building trust, understanding the digital milieu in which children operate and equipping them with the necessary tools to safely navigate complex online interactions (Third et al. 2014). Dialogues on these matters should not be reactionary but should form part of a consistent and comprehensive strategy. By doing so, parents can empower their children to make informed decisions and develop a healthy scepticism towards online content. May this special issue serve as a testament to our shared dedication to understanding and improving the digital lives of children. Let it inspire further research, innovative solutions and unwavering vigilance in our pursuit to safeguard our most valuable assets—the children who will one day shape the world with the very tools we are striving to make safer for them. In closing, we extend our sincerest gratitude to all contributors and reviewers who have made this special issue possible. It is our hope that their work will not only inform but also inspire action and positive change for the betterment of children worldwide. Together, we can chart a path towards a safer and more inclusive digital future for every child. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the special issue.

97Models of School-Family RelationsOpenAlex

Cristina Santamaría Graff, Brandon Sherman
For educators located in the Global North or South what it means to <italic>work with</italic> families in inclusive settings is often a reflection of fundamental conceptions of the very nature of schooling and learning. These conceptions, whether implicit or explicit theories, inform teacher practice, interaction, communication, and involvement when it comes to students’ parents, families, and communities. Understanding how theories of learning relate to family engagement and inclusive practices allows for (a) an accounting of established knowledge and practices and (b) more innovative future directions for engaging parents, families, and communities in schooling. Three specific theories of learning (behaviorist, sociocultural, and critical) demonstrate stark differences in how the roles of parents and family are understood in their children’s education. Each of these theoretical lenses produces different answers to the question of what it means to work <italic>with</italic> families. They entail different conceptualizations of parent/family engagement and inclusion, the challenges to this engagement and inclusion, and the tools used to address these challenges. Families can be positioned as passive recipients of knowledge, contributors to knowledge, or knowledge-makers. Regarding their child’s schooling, parents can be seen as supporters, contributors, or collaborators. They can be situated on the periphery of schooling or in the center. Contrasting and complementary elements of behavioral, sociocultural, and critical theories of learning provide insight into traditional, relational, and transformative approaches to working with families. These theoretical approaches entail practical implications as well, reflected in both standard educational practices and in extant findings in the field of educational research. This theoretical/practical approach allows for insight into why, in application, there is dissonance in perspectives among educators about how to <italic>work with</italic> families and what this <italic>work</italic> may entail and look like, and provides suggestions for how families and communities might come to play a more central role in the education of their children.

98Digital health promotion: promise and peril.PubMed

Amanda Koh, De Wet Swanepoel, Annie Ling, et al.
Health Promot Int. 2021 Dec 13;36(Supplement_1):i70-i80. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daab134.
The World Health Organization defines health promotion as process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health. As the world transitions into the information age, incorporating digital technologies into health promotion is becoming commonplace. This article discusses current applications of digital health promotion (DHP) and addresses its potential benefits, challenges, as well as how differences in cultures, governance models and digital readiness across the globe will shape the implementation of DHP differently in each society. The benefits include expanding access to health information and health promoting services, lowering scaling up costs, personalizing health advice and real-time 'nudging' toward healthier options. Key challenges would involve privacy control, appropriate use of data including secondary usage beyond the original intention, defining the limits of 'nudging' and the right of free choice, and ensuring widespread accessibility and affordability to minimize the exacerbation of social inequities. Finally, we discuss the enabling factors for successful DHP implementation, suggesting measures that should be taken at both individual and system levels. At the individual level, we explore the factors necessary to access and benefit from DHP meaningfully; at the system level, we examine the infrastructure required to provide wide access, establish trust among users and enable sustainability of behavioral changes.

99Research progress on digital health literacy of older adults: A scoping review.PubMed

Xinxin Wang, Wei Luan
Front Public Health. 2022 Aug 5;10:906089. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.906089. eCollection 2022.
With the rapid development of digital health today, the lack of digital health literacy in older adults is an urgent problem. It is crucial that older adults adapt to the digital reform in medical treatment, pension, health management, and other fields. Therefore, we reviewed the current development status of digital health literacy among older adults. A total of 47 articles were included in this scoping review. Our findings revealed that research on digital health literacy in older adults is still in its infancy. Further development is warranted especially in terms of assessment tools and intervention methods.

100Determinants of Digital Health Literacy: International Cross-Sectional Study.PubMed

Connor S Qiu, Tetiana Lunova, Geva Greenfield, et al.
J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jun 30;27:e66631. doi: 10.2196/66631.
BACKGROUND: Digital health literacy describes an individual's ability to use digital information and tools to improve their own health. Understanding how digital health literacy varies across populations could help improve health equity. However, the determinants of digital health literacy have been scarcely evaluated. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the levels of digital health literacy in 4 countries (United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Germany) and explore potential associations between digital health literacy and demographic characteristics and self-perceived health status. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was disseminated to participants from the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Sweden in December 2020. Digital health literacy was self-reported using the validated eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS; range: 0-40); low digital health literacy has been previously defined as an eHEALS score<26. Participant characteristics collected were sex, age group, ethnicity, country, and perceived overall health status. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to explore associations between these variables and digital health literacy. RESULTS: A total of 6331 participants were included (51.7% female, n=3272). The mean eHEALS score was 29.2 (SD 6.8). Participant age, sex, health status, and country of residence were included in the final multivariable model. Compared to the 45- to 54-year age group, the 55 years and older age group had lower digital health literacy (β=-1.0; 95% CI -1.4 to -0.5; P<.001), while digital health literacy was higher in those aged 25-34 years (β=0.9; 95% CI 0.3-1.5; P=.002) and 35-44 years (β=0.6; 95% CI 0.1-1.2; P=.03). Better health status was associated with greater digital health literacy (β=0.3; 95% CI 0.2-0.4; P<.001). Compared to participants from Germany, those from the United Kingdom (β=2.1; 95% CI 1.7-2.5; P<.001) and Sweden (β=2.9; 95% CI 2.4-3.4; P<.001) had higher digital health literacy scores, while there was no difference with Italian participants (P=.399). Sex and ethnicity did not have any significant effect on digital health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: This study found significant variations in digital health literacy by age, health status, and country of residence. Targeted educational programs for vulnerable groups, particularly those of older age and poorer health status, are essential. Policies fostering accessible digital health solutions and mitigating health technology-related uncertainties for these populations are crucial for achieving optimal health outcomes.

101E-Connect: Linking probation youth at risk for suicide to behavioral health services.PubMed

Katherine S Elkington, Gail A Wasserman, Margaret E Ryan, et al.
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2023 Sep;91(9):547-557. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000824. Epub 2023 Jun 1.
OBJECTIVE: Youth involved in the justice system (YIJ) have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) and associated behavioral health (BH) problems, yet lower levels of service use compared to youth in the general population. This study examined the efficacy of , a digital clinical decision support system (CDSS), at improving STB risk identification, referral, and linkage to BH services by probation officers. As the intervention spanned pre- and post-COVID-19 shutdown periods, we also examined the disruption in public agencies' service provision on study outcomes. METHOD: Administrative record data (1,488 youth, ages 10-18 years, 56% male, 56% White) allowed examination of differences between care-as-usual (baseline) and e-Connect in screening, identification of STB and BH problems, referral, and treatment initiation. RESULTS: Compared to care-as-usual, probation officers using e-Connect were over five times as likely to identify YIJ with STB (adjusted odds ratio [a] = 5.86; 95% confidence interval, CI [3.24, 11.7]) and over 11 times more likely to refer YIJ in need of BH services to treatment (a = 11.04; 95% CI [6.54, 19.43]). In turn, youth referred to treatment via e-Connect were nearly 17 times more likely to initiate (a = 16.92; 95% CI [9.17, 32.60]). Results remained unchanged during the pre- and post-COVID-19 shutdown periods. CONCLUSION: e-Connect is one of the first digital STB screening, referral, and linkage-to-service systems that use CDSS technology to successfully assist probation officers in linking youth on their caseload to treatment. Such an approach may support identification of STB and cross-systems linkage in other youth-serving organizations, such as schools, that increasingly manage youth BH problems with minimal clinical support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

102Promoting Resilience in Stress Management for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.PubMed

Joyce P Yi-Frazier, Marisa E Hilliard, Maeve B O'Donnell, et al.
JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Aug 1;7(8):e2428287. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28287.
IMPORTANCE: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires demanding self-management health behaviors, and adolescents with T1D are at risk for poor psychosocial and medical outcomes. Developing resilience skills may help adolescents with T1D and elevated distress navigate common stressors and achieve positive outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of the Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) intervention on levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), diabetes distress, self-management behaviors, resilience, and quality of life among adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This phase 3, parallel, 1:1 randomized clinical trial that followed up 172 participants for 12 months was conducted from January 1, 2020, to November 30, 2022, at each of 2 children's hospitals, in Seattle, Washington, and Houston, Texas. Participants were ages 13 to 18 years with T1D for at least 12 months and elevated diabetes distress. INTERVENTION: PRISM, a manualized, skills-based, individual intervention program that teaches stress management, goal setting, reframing, and meaning-making, facilitated by a coach and accompanied by a digital app, was delivered in three 30- to 60-minute sessions approximately 2 weeks apart. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The 2 primary outcomes, diabetes distress and HbA1c levels, and 3 secondary outcomes, resilience, quality of life, and engagement in self-management behaviors, were assessed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after baseline. Linear mixed-effects regression models were used to evaluate associations between PRISM or usual care (UC) and these outcomes at both time points for the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: Among 172 adolescents (mean [SD] age, 15.7 [1.6] years), 96 were female (56%), and their baseline mean (SD) HbA1c level was 8.7% (2.0%). No differences were evident between PRISM and UC recipients in HbA1c levels (β, -0.21 [95% CI, -0.65 to 0.22]; P = .33) or diabetes distress (β, -2.71 [95% CI, -6.31 to 0.90]; P = .14) or any participant-reported outcome (eg, β, 2.25 [95% CI, -0.30 to 4.80]; P = .08 for self-management behaviors) at 6 months. At 12 months, there was no statistically significant difference between arms in HbA1c levels (β, -0.26 [95% CI, -0.72 to 0.19]; P = .25); however, PRISM recipients reported significantly greater amelioration of diabetes distress (β, -4.59 [95% CI, -8.25 to -0.94]; P = .01) and improvement in self-management behaviors (β, 3.4 [95% CI, 0.9 to 5.9]; P = .01) compared with UC recipients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings in this randomized clinical trial of psychosocial and behavioral improvements associated with PRISM at 12 months illustrate the value of a strengths-based intervention. Integrating resilience skills-building with traditional diabetes care may be a promising approach for improving outcomes among adolescents with T1D and elevated diabetes distress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03847194.

103Adolescent Male Receptivity of and Preferences for Sexual Health Interventions in the Emergency Department.PubMed

Lauren S Chernick, Brendan K Wallace, Maxmoore T Potkin, et al.
Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 May 1;38(5):213-218. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002563. Epub 2021 Nov 18.
OBJECTIVE: Male adolescents frequently present to the emergency department (ED) and many participate in behaviors increasing their risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Although the ED visit may represent an intervention opportunity, how best to design and deliver a sexual health intervention matching the preferences of adolescent male users is unclear. Our objective was to explore receptivity to and preferences for sexual health interventions among adolescent male ED patients. METHODS: In this qualitative study, we asked sexually active male ED patients aged 14 to 21 years about their attitudes toward ED-based sexual health interventions and preferences for intervention modalities. Participants interacted with an early prototype of a digital intervention to gather specific feedback. Enrollment continued until saturation of key themes. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded based on thematic analysis using NVivo. RESULTS: Participants (n = 42) were predominantly 18 to 21 years (63%) and Hispanic (79%). Although most (71%) had sex in the prior 3 months, 45% did not use a condom at last intercourse and 17% had impregnated a partner. Participants viewed the ED visit as unused time without distracting influences, suitable for educational sexual health interventions. They considered ED-based digital interventions a reliable and confidential source of information. Engaging interventions allowed user control and provided novel and relatable content. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent male ED patients are receptive to ED-based digital sexual health interventions. These identified preferences should be considered when designing future user-informed sexual health interventions for the ED setting.

104Factors influencing digital health literacy among older adults: a scoping review.PubMed

Zhen Shi, Xixi Du, Juan Li, et al.
Front Public Health. 2024 Nov 1;12:1447747. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1447747. eCollection 2024.
BACKGROUND: The growth of digital technology, represented by the development of the Internet, has become popular among older adults. Implying digital health literacy on older adults also affects their ability to use digital technology to search, browse, understand, and evaluate health information to improve their health status. This scoping review aims to explore (1) the situation of digital health literacy among older adults and (2) the influencing factors on the digital health literacy of older adults. METHODS: A scoping review was performed to evaluate evidence on influencing factors on digital health literacy among older adults in October 2023 employing data from literature indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Springer Link, and CNKI with search terms such as "digital health literacy," "e-health literacy," "eHealth literacy" and "elderly people," "aged people," "old age." The review comprised research articles that addressed issues related to digital health literacy and older adults, excluding non-research and research articles that only expressed opinions without concrete data or material support. RESULTS: The final review included 28 articles from 4,706 retrieved records. The synthesis revealed that the digital health literacy of older adults was reflected in the scores of older adults in high-income countries, which were relatively high. In contrast, those in middle-income countries tended to be generally lower. The digital health literacy of older adults was affected by socio-demographic factors, related factors of electronic devices, and use and social support factors. CONCLUSION: Gaps of study discussed in this scoping review should be narrowed in further studies. Developing digital health literacy interventions with education and training programs should be considered to improve the digital health literacy of older adults. The digital divide among older adults should be bridged by improving social capital and family support through integrated intervention roles of government, community, and family.

105Digital health technologies and inequalities: A scoping review of potential impacts and policy recommendations.PubMed

Janine Badr, Aude Motulsky, Jean-Louis Denis
Health Policy. 2024 Aug;146:105122. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105122. Epub 2024 Jul 2.
Digital health technologies hold promises for reducing health care costs, enhancing access to care, and addressing labor shortages. However, they risk exacerbating inequalities by disproportionately benefitting a subset of the population. Use of digital technologies accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our scoping review aimed to describe how inequalities related to their use were conceptually assessed during and after the pandemic and understand how digital strategies and policies might support digital equity. We used the PRISMA Extension for scoping reviews, identifying 2055 papers through an initial search of 3 databases in 2021 and complementary search in 2022, of which 41 were retained. Analysis was guided by the eHealth equity framework. Results showed that digital inequalities were reported in the U.S. and other high-income countries and were mainly assessed through differences in access and use according to individual sociodemographic characteristics. Health disparities related to technology use and the interaction between context and technology implementation were more rarely documented. Policy recommendations stressed the adoption of an equity lens in strategy development and multilayered and intersectoral collaboration to align interventions with the needs of specific subgroups. Finally, findings suggested that evaluations of health and wellbeing distribution related to the use of digital technologies should inform digital strategies and health policies.

106Digital media and mental health in adolescent athletes.PubMed

Radha Fiedler, Jahan Heidari, Tim Birnkraut, et al.
Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Jul;67:102421. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102421. Epub 2023 Mar 11.
Although digital media are increasingly important for adolescent athletes, few studies explore their influence on mental health in this population. This study aimed to examine this relationship in 591 German adolescent athletes (aged 12-19 years) from 42 different sports. Longer daily social media usage was connected to increased negative affect and dysfunctional eating patterns. Similar results were found for cognitive-behavioral symptoms of excessive media usage and mental health. Structural equation modeling revealed these relationships were mediated by social comparison and quality of sleep. Higher athletic performance level was related to increased social comparison, but not to quality of sleep, negative affect, and dysfunctional eating. The negative relationship between excessive media usage and sleep was stronger in competitive and elite than in recreational athletes. Results imply digital media should receive attention when aiming to improve mental health in athletes. Relevant targets for future intervention could be social comparison and sleep.

107Possible Effects of Social Media Use on Adolescent Health Behaviors and PerceptionsOpenAlex

Greta Buda, Justė Lukoševičiūtė, Laura Šalčiūnaitė, et al.
Social media use is one of the most popular leisure activities among adolescents. Concomitant to this is a growing concern regarding problematic social media use and its relationship with health behaviors. To further increase the body of research into this phenomenon, our study explored the relationship between problematic social media use and physical activity levels, sleep peculiarities, and life satisfaction in Lithuanian children and adolescents. The study was conducted in April to June 2018 during the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey in Lithuania, a collaborative project of the World Health Organization. The sample comprised 4,191 school children (mean age 13.9 ± 1.69 years). The findings show that problematic social media use associates with about two times higher odds for worse sleep quality and lower life satisfaction. Problematic social media use was related to lower levels of vigorous physical activity in girls, but the possible effect on moderate physical activity was in boys and was inverse-boys with problematic social media use reported higher levels of moderate physical activity. Overall, in our study, girls with problematic social media use tended to have more negative health perceptions than boys. The results suggest that problematic social media use is an independent risk factor for negative health behaviors. This study adds to the accumulating knowledge that problematic social media use among adolescents may lead to worse health perceptions and, likely, further negative health outcomes.

108A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescentsOpenAlex

Betul Keles, Niall McCrae, Annmarie Grealish
While becoming inextricable to our daily lives, online social media are blamed for increasing mental health problems in younger people. This systematic review synthesized evidence on the influence of social media use on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. A search of PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and SSCI databases reaped 13 eligible studies, of which 12 were cross-sectional. Findings were classified into four domains of social media: time spent, activity, investment and addiction. All domains correlated with depression, anxiety and psychological distress. However, there are considerable caveats due to methodological limitations of cross-sectional design, sampling and measures. Mechanisms of the putative effects of social media on mental health should be explored further through qualitative enquiry and longitudinal cohort studies.

109Associations between social media, adolescent mental health, and diet: A systematic review.PubMed

Laurence Blanchard, Kaitlin Conway-Moore, Anaely Aguiar, et al.
Obes Rev. 2023 Sep;24 Suppl 2:e13631. doi: 10.1111/obr.13631.
Social media use is integral to many adolescents' lives. It brings benefits but can also have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. We conducted a systematic review examining associations between social media use, adolescent mental health (including body image, self-esteem, stress, interpersonal relationships and loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms), and dietary outcomes. Quantitative studies published between 2019 and 2023 investigating both mental health and diet were searched in 11 databases. The risk of bias was appraised using ROBINS-E. Data were narratively synthesized by type of association, PROGRESS-Plus health equity characteristics, and related to social media influencers. Twenty-one studies were included, of which only one focused on influencers. Sex/gender was the only equity characteristic assessed (n = 8), with mixed results. The findings suggest significant positive correlations between social media use and both depressive and disordered eating symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and anxiety. Four studies identified body image, self-esteem, or anxiety as moderators acting between social media exposure and dietary outcomes. Policy interventions mitigating the impact of social media on adolescents-particularly body image and disordered eating-are needed, alongside follow-up studies on causal pathways, the role of influencers, equity impacts, dietary intake, and the best measurement tools to use.

110Hooked on virtual social life. Problematic social media use and associations with mental distress and addictive disorders.PubMed

Vincent Henzel, Anders Håkansson
PLoS One. 2021 Apr 8;16(4):e0248406. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248406. eCollection 2021.
BACKGROUND: Social media is an important and growing part of the lives of the vast majority of the global population, especially in the young. Although still a young and scarce subject, research has revealed that social media has addictive potential. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the associations between problematic use of social media and mental distress, problematic gaming and gambling, within the Swedish general population. METHODS: Data from 2,118 respondents was collected through self-report questions on demographics and validated scales measuring addiction-like experiences of social media, problem gaming, problem gambling, and mental distress. Associations were analyzed in unadjusted analyses and-for variables not exceedingly inter-correlated-in adjusted logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, problematic use of social media demonstrated a relationship with younger age, time using instant messaging services, and mental distress, but not with education level, occupational status, or with treatment needs for alcohol or drug problems. Behavioral addictions (internet, gaming and gambling) were substantially inter-correlated, and all were associated with problematic use of social media in unadjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Social media use is associated with other addictive behaviors and mental distress. While factors of causality remain to be studied, these insights can motivate healthcare professionals to assess social media habits, for example in individuals suffering from issues concerning gambling, gaming or mental health.

111Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review.PubMed

Carol Vidal, Tenzin Lhaksampa, Leslie Miller, et al.
Int Rev Psychiatry. 2020 May;32(3):235-253. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2020.1720623. Epub 2020 Feb 17.
There have been increases in adolescent depression and suicidal behaviour over the last two decades that coincide with the advent of social media (SM) (platforms that allow communication via digital media), which is widely used among adolescents. This scoping review examined the bi-directional association between the use of SM, specifically social networking sites (SNS), and depression and suicidality among adolescents. The studies reviewed yielded four main themes in SM use through thematic analysis: quantity of SM use, quality of SM use, social aspects associated with SM use, and disclosure of mental health symptoms. Research in this field would benefit from use of longitudinal designs, objective and timely measures of SM use, research on the mechanisms of the association between SM use and depression and suicidality, and research in clinical populations to inform clinical practice.

112Quality of life and mental health of adolescents: Relationships with social media addiction, Fear of Missing out, and stress associated with neglect and negative reactions by online peers.PubMed

Vu Anh Trong Dam, Nam Gia Dao, Duy Cao Nguyen, et al.
PLoS One. 2023 Jun 7;18(6):e0286766. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286766. eCollection 2023.
Social networking is proliferating globally and in Vietnam, but this led to several negative aspects of adolescents' health, including physical activity, sleep quality, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to identify the relationship between social media usage and examine risk factors (Fear of Missing out and Risk of Neglect) on social media usage, and the overall quality of life and mental health among individuals actively using social media networks. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in three cities in Vietnam (Hanoi, Tuyen Quang, and Can Tho) from September through to October 2021. A structured questionnaire assessed for characteristics of social media use and other associated factors. 1891 participants were recruited, with 98.4% having access to social media. s. Factors like "PHQ-9 score", "Problematic Internet use", and "Time average used social media per day", were negatively associated with the EQ5D5L Index. By contrast, "Gender", and "Using smartphone" were positive factors of the EQ5D5L Index. "FOMO score" and "self-harm and suicide" were positive factors of the PHQ-9 score while "Using smartphone" was negative. In terms of self-harm and suicide, "FOMO score" and "Problematic Internet use" were positive factors, by contrast, "Using smartphone" was a negative factor. This is the first study to examine social media addiction among Vietnamese adolescents, its relationship with FOMO score, stresses associated with rejection and neglect, and the overall quality of life. Our results highlighted there is a relationship between FOMO score and impaired overall quality of life, increased depressive symptoms, and an association between stresses relating to negative rejection and FOMO score.

113The Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorder Risk and Self-Esteem Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Psychosocial Analysis in Individuals Aged 16-25.PubMed

Sylwia Jaruga-Sękowska, Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka, Joanna Woźniak-Holecka
Nutrients. 2025 Jan 8;17(2):219. doi: 10.3390/nu17020219.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Eating disorders (EDs) result from complex interactions of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors, disproportionately affecting adolescents and young adults. Social media, peer pressure, and self-esteem issues contribute to ED prevalence. This study examines ED risk, eating behaviors, and self-esteem among individuals aged 16-25, exploring differences by gender, age, and social media usage. METHODS: A total of 261 participants (113 high school students, 115 college students, 33 working individuals) completed the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) between April and June 2024. This study utilized the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and My Eating Habits (MEH) questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and linear regression, assessed associations between ED risk, self-esteem, and social media activity. RESULTS: ED risk was identified in 47% (n = 123) of participants, with the highest prevalence in high school students (56.6%, n = 64). Significant gender differences were observed ( < 0.001), with males in the high school group showing elevated ED risk (64%, n = 32). Body dissatisfaction and frequent social media comparisons increased ED risk ( < 0.001); 45.7% (n = 102) of participants who often compared their bodies online reported heightened risk. Photo manipulation correlated with higher ED risk ( = 0.005). Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between ED risk and restrictive dieting (estimate = 0.9239; < 0.001), while self-esteem had no significant effect (estimate = 0.00503, = 0.977). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights high ED risk driven by social media and body dissatisfaction. Interventions should focus on body image issues, self-acceptance, and media literacy. This study focused on a specific age group (16-25) in Poland, which may limit the ability to generalize the results to other demographic or cultural groups. Future research should include more diverse populations and objective measurements.

114The negative effects of social media on the social identity of adolescents from the perspective of social workOpenAlex

Walaa Elsayed
The aim of this study was to understand the social identity levels of adolescents and to analyze the negative effects of social media on their social identity from the perspective of social work. The researcher used a descriptive-analytical technique in this study. The study's sample consisted of 200 adolescents (male and female) in the secondary stage at age group (15-18 years). The researcher designed a questionnaire based on the four main levels of James Marcia's theory of social identity. The results showed a variety of negative effects of social media on the social identity of adolescents in terms of "achievement - postponement - closure - dispersion", this requires taking serious measures from the family, the school, and other institutions to care for the family and the child to strengthen how to face these risks to protect the identity of adolescents from violating their privacy and negatively affecting their intellectual principles.