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More than 300 Facebook friends are stressing teens
For teens, a high number of friends on Facebook can bring considerable stress. In a recent study, scientists from the University of Montreal have investigated possible relationships between social network activity and adolescent stress levels. They found that adolescents with more than 300 Facebook friends had significantly higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol in adolescents have been linked to an increased risk of depression in previous studies, warn Canadian scientists. The results of her current study were published in the journal "Psychoneuroendocrinology".
The social network today is an integral part in the lives of most teens. But while a large circle of friends in real life, according to the Canadian researchers is a clear "feel-good factor", a high number of friends on Facebook for the young people can cause significant stress. Adolescents with more than 300 Facebook friends showed significantly higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the current studies than adolescents who had few friends in the social network, reports the research team led by Professor Sonia Lupien of the University of Montreal. Supportive comments on posts by friends or similar likes ("likes") have reduced the stress levels of Facebook users, however, in the study, write Lupien and colleagues on.
Many Facebook friends bring with them a high stress level. (Image: SkyLine / fotolia.com) Psychic effect of Facebook usage
The impact of the social network on society is discussed critically from a variety of perspectives, although mostly data protection aspects are in the foreground. The Canadian researchers, however, devoted themselves in their study, the psychological effect of Facebook behavior. For their study, Prof. Sonia Lupien and her team recruited 88 volunteers between the ages of 12 and 17 who recorded their Facebook usage, including the frequency of use, the number of friends, their self-image, their received and awarded "likes "In which virtual-social networks revealed. Accompanying the cortisol values of the adolescents were determined. Over a period of three weeks, the scientists took four samples a day, twice a week.
From 300 Facebook friends, the stress increases
On the one hand, the researchers observed a rise in cortisol levels with the number of Facebook friends, but on the other hand they also noticed a decrease in the level of stress when interacting with friends (for example, giving "likes" or exchanging supportive comments). Although the measured stress levels in adolescents with many Facebook friends "of course not completely due to the popular social network", but other important external factors must be taken into account. But the isolated effect of Facebook on the cortisol levels is about eight percent, so Lupien and colleagues. "We were able to show that over 300 Facebook friends in adolescents cause a higher cortisol level," the researchers explain. For young people with 1,000 or 2,000 Facebook friends, the stress level is probably much higher. The frequency of Facebook use or frequency of use, however, play no role in terms of cortisol levels.
Risk of later depression
The risk of increased cortisol levels, according to Canadian researchers, is evident in previous studies in which high morning cortisol levels in 13-year-old adolescents are 37 percent greater for 16-year-olds Context was brought. In addition, studies have shown that in children with persistently high levels of cortisol more than eleven years can pass until the onset of the first symptoms of severe depression. Although none of the participating adolescents suffered from depression in the current study, "adolescents with high levels of stress hormones may later experience this," warns Prof. Lupien. Further investigations are needed to better estimate the risk. (Fp)