scholarly journals Does Putting Away Your Smartphone Make You Happier? The Effects of Restricting Digital Media and Social Media on Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Walsh ◽  
Annie Regan ◽  
Karynna Okabe-Miyamoto ◽  
Sonja Lyubomirsky
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Correlational Research ◽  
Dating Apps ◽  
Direction Of Effects

Both scientists and laypeople have become increasingly concerned about smartphones, especially their associated digital media (e.g., email, news, gaming, and dating apps) and social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat). Recent correlational research links substantial declines in Gen Z well-being to digital and social media use, yet other work suggests the effects are small and unnoteworthy. To further disentangle correlation from causation and better elucidate the strength and direction of effects, we conducted a pre-registered 8-day experimental deprivation study with Gen Z individuals (N = 338). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) restrict digital media use, (2) restrict social media use, (3) restrict water use (active control), or (4) restrict nothing (measurement-only control). Relative to controls, participants restricting digital media reported a variety of benefits, including higher life satisfaction, mindfulness, autonomy, competence, and self-esteem, and reduced loneliness and stress. In contrast, those assigned to restrict social media reported relatively few benefits (increased mindfulness) and even some costs (more negative emotion).

scholarly journals Negative influences of Facebook use through the lens of network analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lien Faelens ◽  
Kristof Hoorelbeke ◽  
Eiko I Fried ◽  
Rudi de Raedt ◽  
Ernst H. W. Koster
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Facebook Use

Various recent studies suggest a negative association between Facebook use and mental health. Yet, empirical evidence for this association is mixed, raising the question under which conditions Facebook use is related to negative outcomes, such as decreased well-being. Our study addresses this question by investigating the relationship between Facebook use, rumination, depressive, anxiety-, and stress-related symptoms, taking into account potential key variables such as social comparison, contingent self-esteem, and global self-esteem. In a first study, we explored the unique relations between these constructs using state-of-the-art network analysis. Subsequently, we conducted a preregistered replication study. In both studies, social comparison and self-esteem held a central position in the network, connecting social media use with indicators of psychopathology. These findings highlight the prominent role of social comparison and self-esteem in the context of social media use and well-being. Longitudinal and experimental studies will be required to further investigate these relationships.

scholarly journals Exploring the Role of Social Media Use Motives, Psychological Well-Being, Self-Esteem, and Affect in Problematic Social Media Use

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Schivinski ◽  
Magdalena Brzozowska-Woś ◽  
Ellena Stansbury ◽  
Jason Satel ◽  
Christian Montag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Facebook Use ◽  
Problematic Social Media Use

Given recent advances in technology, connectivity, and the popularity of social media platforms, recent literature has devoted great attention to problematic Facebook use. However, exploring the potential predictors of problematic social media use beyond Facebook use has become paramount given the increasing popularity of multiple alternative platforms. In this study, a sample of 584 social media users (Mage = 32.28 years; 67.81% female) was recruited to complete an online survey assessing sociodemographic characteristics, patterns, and preferences of social media use, problematic social media use (PSMU), social media use motives, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and positive and negative affect. Results indicated that 6.68% (n = 39) of all respondents could be potentially classed as problematic users. Moreover, further analysis indicated that intrapersonal motive (β = 0.38), negative affect (β = 0.22), daily social media use (β = 0.18), surveillance motive (β = 0.12), and positive affect (β = −0.09) each predicted PSMU. These variables accounted for about 37% of the total variance in PSMU, with intrapersonal motive driving the greatest predictive contribution, over and above the effects of patterns of social media use and sociodemographic variables. These findings contribute to the increasing literature on PSMU. The results of this study are discussed in light of the existing literature on PSMU.

Social Media Contributions to Strong Black Woman Ideal Endorsement and Black Women’s Mental Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis G. Stanton ◽  
Morgan C. Jerald ◽  
L. Monique Ward ◽  
Lanice R. Avery
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Black Woman ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Women’S Mental Health ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Strong Black Woman ◽  
Women's Mental Health

Although research findings highlight the complex dualities of the Strong Black Woman ideal and demonstrate its effects on Black women’s mental health and well-being, there is less understanding of the role that social media may play in Black women’s negotiation of this ideal. To what extent might Black women’s engagement with race-related social media, such as the use of Black-oriented blogs and hashtags, contribute to their well-being and potentially buffer contributions of the Strong Black Woman ideal? To investigate this question, we tested 412 Black women who completed online survey measures assessing their general social media use, Black-oriented blog and hashtag use, mental health, and self-esteem. Correlational and regression analyses revealed that, as expected, both greater endorsement of the Strong Black Woman ideal and higher levels of general social media use was associated with adverse mental health and lower self-esteem. Contrary to our expectations, Black-oriented blog use was also associated with more symptoms of depression and anxiety and did not moderate effects of Strong Black Woman endorsement on well-being. Clinicians, instructors, parents, and media activists should be mindful of how the use of both traditional and race-related social media may be both liberating for, and detrimental to, Black women’s well-being.

No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 751-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa G. Hunt ◽  
Rachel Marx ◽  
Courtney Lipson ◽  
Jordyn Young
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Correlational Research ◽  
The University ◽  
Anxiety And Fear

Introduction: Given the breadth of correlational research linking social media use to worse well-being, we undertook an experimental study to investigate the potential causal role that social media plays in this relationship. Method: After a week of baseline monitoring, 143 undergraduates at the University of Pennsylvania were randomly assigned to either limit Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat use to 10 minutes, per platform, per day, or to use social media as usual for three weeks. Results: The limited use group showed significant reductions in loneliness and depression over three weeks compared to the control group. Both groups showed significant decreases in anxiety and fear of missing out over baseline, suggesting a benefit of increased self-monitoring. Discussion: Our findings strongly suggest that limiting social media use to approximately 30 minutes per day may lead to significant improvement in well-being.

Examining the Direction of Effects Between COVID-19 Experiences, General Well-Being, Social Media Engagement, and Insomnia Symptoms Among University Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110511
Author(s):  
Royette T. Dubar ◽  
Nicole K. Watkins ◽  
Grant C. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Direction Of Effects ◽  
Problematic Social Media Use ◽  
Insomnia Symptoms

The present longitudinal study assessed the direction of effects between COVID-19 experiences, general well-being, socio-emotional motives for online communication, problematic social media use, and insomnia symptoms, among a sample of emerging adults at university. Participants ( N = 619; 64% female; 66% White) completed an online survey 5 months apart during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from an autoregressive cross-lagged model showed that poorer general well-being at baseline predicted greater endorsement of socio-emotional motives for online communication and higher insomnia symptoms over time. Negative COVID-19 experiences predicted higher social (but not emotional) motives for online communication. Lastly, insomnia symptoms and more problematic social media use predicted more negative COVID-19 experiences 5 months later (but not vice versa). Understanding the mechanisms of these associations will provide a better understanding of the factors that promote positive psychosocial functioning among emerging adults during the current COVID-19 pandemic and may inform psychosocial adjustment during future pandemics.

The effect of social media use on empathy and welling: a personality perspective in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mousa Albashrawi ◽  
Yousef Asiri ◽  
Muhammad Binsawad ◽  
Latifah Alqahtani
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of social media use on both empathy and well-being through using a five-factor model (FFM) of personality in the context of Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from the 13 regions in Saudi Arabia. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure the reliability and validity of the study’s constructs and a structural equation modeling technique was applied to test the study hypotheses. Findings With a sample of 450 users, the regression results indicate a less significant relationship between personality and social media use, as well as between personality and affective empathy, while a more significant relationship between personality and cognitive empathy. Also, individuals’ well-being are influenced directly by the heavy use of social media. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design used in this research may not be able to provide the true essence of the hypothesized relationships compared to the cause-effect design. This study furthers the understanding of the role of personality on empathy and well-being in social media among Saudis from one side and provides insights to professionals for better improvement of social media and so better individuals’ well-being from the other side. Originality/value This paper fills an untapped gap in a developing country context by exploring the relationship between the usage of social media and the two dimensions of empathy, which, in turn, influence well-being under the theoretical lens of an FFM personality.

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