Problematic Social Media Use and Health among Adolescents

Leena Paakkari, Jorma Tynjälä, Henri Lahti, Kristiina Ojala and Nelli Lyyra
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Leena Paakkari: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Jorma Tynjälä: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Henri Lahti: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Kristiina Ojala: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Nelli Lyyra: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: The use of social media has become an integral part of adolescents’ daily lives. However, the intensive use of social media can develop into a health-threatening addiction, but unfavourable health consequences can occur even with less use. Social media user groups categorized as no-risk , moderate risk (of developing problematic behaviour), and problematic use were examined with reference to their prevalence, their associations with individual determinants and health, and the increased health risk between groups. (2) Methods: The Finnish nationally representative HBSC data (persons aged 11, 13, and 15, n = 3408) and descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis were applied. (3) Results: Problematic social media use (9.4%) was most common among older age groups, and among persons with moderate/low school achievement, low health literacy, and low parental monitoring. Belonging to a moderate risk group (33.5%) was most frequent among girls, and among adolescents with low/moderate parental monitoring and health literacy. All the negative health indicators systematically increased if the respondent belonged to a moderate risk or problematic use group. (4) Conclusions: The study confirmed the association between problematic social media use and negative health outcomes and highlighted the need to pay close attention to adolescents at moderate risk who exhibited negative health outcomes.

Keywords: social media; problematic social media use; adolescents; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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