Association Between Social Media Use Duration and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the duration of social media use and the prevalence and severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms among adolescents in the real-world settings, thereby providing data support to inform mental health support and guide appropriate social media use.

Methods: This retrospective study analysed clinical data from 156 adolescents admitted to the Mental Health Service Centre of The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province (Brain Hospital of Hunan Province) between January 2022 and December 2023. Data were extracted from electronic medical record system and structured survey forms. Baseline demographic characteristics, social media use related data, and mental health assessment results were collected. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationship between social media use duration and scores on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Results: Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in parenting style, academic performance, weekly exercise frequency, and depression and anxiety symptoms across different durations of social media use (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive correlations between average daily social media use duration and PHQ-9 score (r = 0.352, p < 0.001) and GAD-7 score (r = 0.308, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression identified longer social media use as an independent risk factor for positive depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.794, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.261–2.547), along with authoritative parenting (OR = 2.485, 95% CI: 1.253–4.922), permissive parenting (OR = 3.427, 95% CI: 1.503–7.816), medium academic performance (OR = 2.867, 95% CI: 1.286–6.396), and poor academic performance (OR = 6.118, 95% CI: 2.534–14.779). For positive anxiety symptoms, independent risk factors included longer social media use (OR = 1.624, 95% CI: 1.169–2.267), authoritative parenting (OR = 2.278, 95% CI: 1.171–4.425), permissive parenting (OR = 2.863, 95% CI: 1.317–6.256), medium academic performance (OR = 2.564, 95% CI: 1.176–5.614), poor academic performance (OR = 4.575, 95% CI: 1.975–10.614), and reduced weekly exercise frequency (1–2 times/week: OR = 1.927, 95% CI: 1.027–3.608; <1 time/week: OR = 3.825, 95% CI: 1.896–7.736). 

Conclusions: Social media use duration is significantly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring adolescent social media use and implementing targeted health guidance to reduce mental health risks.