Adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19 who have mental health problems spend more time on social networks than those who are not inconvenient. This is what reveals a study conducted in the United Kingdom and published on Monday (5) in the famous scientific journal Nature Human Behavior.
According to researchers, Study results It can be useful for developing adequate clinical interventions for adolescents with mental health problems.
To reach the conclusions, the researchers analyzed the search data from 3,340 British teenagers between the ages of 11 and 19, at least 16 % of them were diagnosed with mental health.
They found that participants who suffer from the worst mental health cases reported more time on social networks – an additional 50 minutes a day. In addition, this audience has reported less satisfaction than the number of friends on social networks compared to those who do not have mental health conditions.
The researchers also found that participants who suffer from conditions such as depression or anxiety disorder have spent longer on social media, compared to other people on networks, and witnessed a greater impact on their mood through the amount of comments online (the number of likes, shares and comments received in a publication).
Despite the results, scientists claim that more future research is needed to establish any causal relationships between the use of social networks and the mental health conditions of adolescents. Future work should include participants from other countries as well.
The relationship between mental health and social networks is not new
This is not the first time that studies have suffered from mental health problems for the use of social networks. Last year, the “Panorama Mental Health” report, Al -Saba and Atlas Institute, showed that among the 36.9 % of the Brazilians who spent 3 hours or more daily on social networks, 43.5 % have an anxiety diagnosis.
In the view of the authors of the report, the use of social networks may have harmful effects that negatively affect mental health.
Previous studies have also been associated with excessive use of social networks with problems in the subjective image, the lowest social interaction to the interface, the largest exposure to online domination, the changes in the dopamine bonus system and the fear of not being complete events.
A work at the University of York University in the UK showed that women who take a break from the use of social networks have a significant improvement in the self -border and body image.
Another research, conducted by scientists at the University of College London (UCL), showed that adolescents addicted to the Internet are subject to brain changes that can lead to behavioral changes and increase in dependence trends on being a person who resists an internet use symposium, which affects their psychological well -being as well as his social, academic and professional life.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.