Real-life closeness of social media contacts and depressive symptoms among university students

J Am Coll Health. 2018 Nov-Dec;66(8):747-753. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1440575. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between degree of real-life closeness of social media (SM) contacts and depressive symptoms.

Participants: Students ages 18-30 (N = 1124) were recruited in August 2016.

Methods: Participants completed an online survey assessing SM use and depression. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between real-life closeness of SM contacts and depressive symptoms.

Results: After controlling for covariates, each 10% increase in the proportion of SM friends with whom participants had no face-to-face relationship was associated with a 9% increase in odds of depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.05-1.13). However, each 10% increase in the proportion of SM friends with whom participants had a close face-to-face relationship was associated with a 7% decrease in depressive symptoms (AOR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89-0.97).

Conclusions: Having no in-person relationship with SM contacts is associated with increased depressive symptoms; however, having close in-person relationships with SM contacts is associated with decreased depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Depression; PROMIS; friendship; social media; university students; young adults.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Friends
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Social Media / statistics & numerical data*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities
  • Young Adult