Social networks can trigger depression in young people

Girls are twice as likely to be affected as boys

The use of social networks can trigger depressive symptoms, especially among younger users. Women are more vulnerable than men. This emerges from a current large analysis with about 11,000 young people.

Researchers at University College London found connections between the use of social networks like Facebook and the increased occurrence of depressive symptoms. According to the study, girls are twice as likely to be affected as boys of the same age. The more time spent with the media, the greater the risk of depression. The analysis results were recently published in the journal "The Lancet - EclinicalMedicine".

A recent study shows a clear correlation between long usage times of social media and the onset of depression symptoms. Especially often young girls are affected. (Image: Jürgen Fälchle / fotolia)

Three hours and more per day is not uncommon

All 11,000 participating girls and boys, ages 14, shared information about their use of social media, sleep patterns, perceived self-esteem, and body image. In addition, the adolescents completed a questionnaire in which they were asked about typical symptoms of depression. The analysis showed that girls use social media more than boys of the same age. Two-fifths of the young women even spent more than three hours a day networking. According to the study, only four percent of participating girls and around ten percent of 14-year-old boys refrain from using such networks.

The more time invested, the higher the risk of depression

"The link between the use of social media and depressive symptoms was stronger in girls than in boys," said Professor Yvonne Kelly of University College London in a press release on the study's findings. With the number of hours the participants spend with the media, the onset of depressive symptoms gradually increases. Among the heavy users who spend more than five hours a day on Facebook and Co., 38 percent showed clinically relevant signs of depression.

Online bullying as the main cause

Forty percent of girls and 25 percent of boys said they had experience with online harassment on social media. Those who had more experience with cyberbullying also suffered more from sleep disorders and falling asleep. In turn, sleep-disorder respondents were most likely to experience depression symptoms. The researchers conclude that the most common route to depressive symptoms in using social media is through cyberbullying and worsening sleep.

Damage to self-esteem

As the researchers explain, there is a direct and indirect link between the time spent on social media and the emergence of depressive ailments. For example, cyberbullying can also have a negative effect on one's own body image and self-esteem. "These findings are important for current policy development in terms of safe social media policies," she says. Clinical, educational and family influences could help to think more critically about the use of social media and its potential consequences.

Parents should keep an eye on children's online times

"At home, families may need to think more about when and where it's okay to spend time on social media," the expert suggests. It also makes sense to agree on a time limit for the use of social networks. (Vb)