Overuse Of Social Media Can Lead To Depression: Report
New Delhi: The latest research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders shows that young adults who are more active on social media are substantially more likely to develop depression within six months, irrespective of their personality type.
The report demonstrated that individuals with high agreeableness had a 49% lower risk of developing depression than those with low levels. The team sampled more than 1,000 US individuals aged 18 to 30 years as part of the study.
A statement released by the University of Arkansas says, according to the authors, Previous research has linked the development of depression with numerous factors.
The authors added: “However, the literature has been lacking in studies that focus on how various personality characteristics may interact with social media use and depression. This new study addressed these important research questions, finding strong and linear associations of depression across all personality traits.”
Renae Merrill, a co-author of the paper, said: “Findings from this study are important during a time of technology expansion and integration. Connecting to people virtually may increase the risk of miscommunication or misperception that leads to relationship difficulties and potential risk for developing mental health problems.”
The authors speculate that improper social comparison might amplify negative feelings about oneself and others, which can explain why increasing social media use is associated with an increased risk of depression.
(Vinayak)
